Latest Korean News

Latest Korean News

Reuters reported today that the president of Seoul National University has stripped Dr. Hwang Woo-suk of his title of “chair-professor.” Hwang has already offered to resign from the university. The president also said that six other members of Hwang’s time should receive punishments ranging from reprimands to dismissal. An AP story on Forbes says that Hwang still retains his professorship in veterinary medicine and his future standing will be determined by a disciplinary committee.

In other news, the Korea Times reports that the English magazine the New Scientist reports that Hwang will be granted patents in Europe. A patent does not have to be workable to be granted as long as it does not violate the fundamental laws of science; it only has to be a new idea.

Chosun Ilbo, which reported yesterday that the investigation had taken stem cells from MizMedi Hospital, today reported that the investigators have found the missing experiment log. Kwon Dae-ki, who headed the stem cell team under Hwang, deleted 381 files from his computer in December. The investigators were able to restore 302 of them.