Former Seoul National University professor Hwang Woo-suk. [Herald DB]
Former Seoul National University professor Hwang Woo-suk. [Herald DB]

Former Seoul National University professor Hwang Woo-suk, whose fabricated stem cell research triggered one of the biggest scandals in modern science, has been stripped of South Korea's top science and technology honor.

The government revoked the award in 2020, but a court overturned that decision on procedural grounds. Authorities have since corrected the deficiencies and restarted the revocation process.

According to related ministries Wednesday, the Ministry of Science and ICT requested in March that the Ministry of Interior and Safety cancel Hwang's Korea Best Scientist and Technologist Award. The revocation will be finalized once the president gives formal approval.

The Korea Best Scientist and Technologist Award is a presidential honor bestowed on scientists and engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of science and technology in South Korea.

While at Seoul National University, Hwang drew international acclaim in 2004 after publishing research in the journal Science claiming to be the first in the world to culture and extract human embryonic stem cells. The achievement earned him the Korea Best Scientist and Technologist Award that year, along with a prize of 300 million won ($201,000).

The papers were later found to have been fabricated, and Hwang was removed from Seoul National University in 2005. The Ministry of Science and ICT stripped him of his designation as the nation's top scientist in 2006, but the award itself was left intact at the time due to insufficient regulations governing its revocation.


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com