Generating equations to estimate body mass of Korean skeletal remains

This study aims to generate Korean specific standards for body mass estimation and compare their performance to previous techniques derived from non-Korean samples. Due to a lack of known reference samples in Korea, estimation equations were generated using the hybrid method on 106 Korean unknown skeletons. In the first phase of the hybrid method (morphometric method), a downward adjustment of 4.5 kg was necessary to compensate for a systematic overestimation associated with the morphometric method being applied to Asian samples. Estimates using the adjusted morphometric method were regarded as actual body mass. New body mass equations revealed a better performance in accuracy and precision than previous techniques. However, caution is required in their forensic application because they yield an estimate for body mass around onset of adulthood, rather than the body mass at the time of death.