Seoul removes "Top Scientist" title from disgraced Hwang

The South Korean government decided to remove the "Top Scientist" title from disgraced stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk on Wednesday, one day after an investigative panel confirmed two of Hwang's papers on stem cell research were fabricated.

Moreover, the South Korean government decided to launch an intensive audit into Hwang's use of state research subsidies in the past years, according to a statement issued by the Government Information Agency.

The statement was issued after a meeting of science-related ministers and presidential secretaries. The meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan earlier in the day.

Hwang became the first person to be awarded the title of "Top Scientist" on June 24, 2005 by the South Korean government. With the tile, he was entitled to receive 3 billion won (3 million U.S.dollars ) in state research funding for the next five years.

Since 1998, South Korean government have provided 65.8 billion won (65.9 million dollars) to Hwang, the largest ever spent by the country on a single research group, according to a statistic released by Democratic Labor Party, a South Korean progressive minor political party, earlier.

The statement also announced the government will deprive Hwang of all public service posts, including the membership of Presidential Committee of Science and Technology.

Taking responsibility for ethical and authenticity scandals involving his researches, Hwang already offered resignation from head of the Seoul-based World Stem Cell Hub and professorship of the Seoul National University (SNU) in late 2005.

Regarding the illicit use of human eggs by Hwang's research team and its other ethical breaches, the statement said that the government will soon take legal and administrative actions after afield study by the Health and Welfare Ministry.

On Tuesday, a special panel of the SNU said in its final report that Hwang's two papers, respectively published by U.S.-based journal Science in February 2004 and May 2005, were both faked.

The panel also pointed out much more ova than Hwang's team claimed in the two papers were provided for the researches, including the ones provided by two fellow researchers of Hwang's team.

However, the South Korean government reaffirmed its determination of continuing its support to local stem cell research despite of the scandals in the statement.

"The government is determined to continue to give financial support to local stem cell research projects and work out comprehensive support measures during the first half of the year,"the statement said.

Source: Xinhua