Koreans` support for stem cell scientist remains strong

Koreans` support for stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk does not seem to be waning despite accusations that he unethically procured human eggs for his studies.

An increasing number of women have said that they want to donate their eggs for Hwang`s research.

"I hope to be able to help Dr. Hwang Woo-suk because he is working hard for patients with intractable diseases," said Kim Jae-hong, who is willing to donate her ova. Kim, her sister and her mother pledged to donate their ova to Hwang`s team.

On Tuesday a private foundation was launched to facilitate legal and ethical donations of ova for research purposes. Since then, 70 women have promised to contribute their eggs. The foundation connects ovum donors to medical and research institutes.

The group will monitor to ensure that the ova are used only for research purposes, it said.

The controversy over Hwang`s research erupted this month when Gerald Schatten, a U.S. stem-cell scientist, announced that he was severing ties with Hwang, citing ethical reasons in how Hwang obtained ova.

In online forums, many Koreans have supported Hwang. The website of MBC, a local broadcaster, has been bombarded with criticism after its program "PD Notebook" reported Tuesday that Hwang used ova that was paid for.

In a poll conducted by the nation`s major portal Naver.com, more than 70 percent of people said that paying for egg donors is not unethical.

Both the ruling and main opposition parties also vowed to continue supporting Hwang, saying the controversy should not detract from his groundbreaking achievements.

"It is important to resolve life ethics issues which are raised in the process of realizing people`s hopes of resolving hard-to-cure diseases," said Chung Sye-kyun, floor leader of the Uri Party during a party meeting yesterday.

"For national interests, we need to consider how to maintain and enhance our country`s most advanced biotechnology field," Chung said.

However, civic groups were cautious about the move to support Hwang.

"The thought `it is ok to breach ethical principles if the result is good` should not be allowed in the biotechnology field which calls for strict ethics and transparency," wrote 14 civic groups in their joint statement yesterday.

"If the government is reluctant to pin down the truth due to `national interests,` Korea`s science circles will be isolated internationally."

(hjjin@heraldm.com)



By Jin Hyun-joo