Hwang Woo-Suk, the disgraced scientist from South Korea has formally apologized for fabricating research in his stem-cell studies.
Hwang Woo-Suk, the disgraced scientist from South Korea has formally apologized for fabricating research in his stem-cell studies. "I ask for your forgiveness," he said in a televised press conference in his first public appearance in three weeks. "I feel so miserable that it's difficult even to say sorry."
Two days earlier, a Seoul National University panel investigating Hwang concluded he had never cloned human embryos and had purposively fabricated results for two landmark papers published in the Science journal.Hwang, 53, said he would take full responsibility for the fabrication of the research papers and admitted to exaggerating the data published in Science in May 2005.
However, the veterinarian stood by his assertion that samples were switched at a hospital and named three researchers he believes conspired against his work. On 11 January 2006, the government stripped Hwang of the title "Top Scientist" and the university apologized for the fraud.
Prosecutors were investigating Hwang's case and he may face charges of embezzlement of government funds. His home and office were searched and possible evidence was seized on 12 January 2006.
Edited DPA
