I have a suggestion. Korean newspapers could highlight other scientists/mathematicians/technologists in Korea - their work, lives, accomplishments. Use HWS as an example of lack of ethics. But, focus on future.

Another thing could be done is to focus on how Korean institutions review boards (like US IRBs) can improve.

AKB

They cast a spell on you, you know, the Koreans. When you work closely with them, like I do, you see this. They have this power. It’s like a virus.

Some of my colleagues, like Schatten, are infected with this virus. They should be pitied, not punished. They should receive treatment because this is as real as SARS. I see it all the time. It’s a matter of money.

I have to agree with him on this. Schatten probably saw what was coming and decided to do damage control. He should be also investigated along with Hwang.

Yes, everything would have been just fine if Schatten had kept his big mouth shut.I wonder if the following is the new hate rankings in Korea?

1) Bush
2) Schatten
3) Ohno

Actually, I think the Korea Times wanted to say, “The scandal began when….”

I think Schatten was duped just like everyone else. He was probably just a glorified proofreader like many other foreigners here in Korea. He got the standard tour of Hwang’s research facilities and probably never thought to ask, “You didn’t just make all of this up, did you?”

I believe that Ahn is lying, but I am not sure why she would chose to lie this late in the game? Can’t she see where things are headed? If she is lying, she must feel that she will be protected by someone with some power, and I do not see how it could be Hwang since any power he may have had is swirling around in the toilet bowl right now.

Also, I am curious about why the rest of Hwang’s team of researchers are also sticking with him? Do they really believe in him that much? Are they all implicated in some way and have no choice but to play it out to the end? Have they received some kind of assurance from someone high up in the Korean government that if they just keep quiet, things will be all right? By the way, why is the Korean government being so quiet on this issue? Was No Seong-il a factor they hadn’t planned for? I can’t help but think conspiracy.

Though it is not directly related to the Hwang issue, some may find this video somewhat amusing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12.....clone.html

Amen. END QUOTE

You hit the nail on the head Michael. Korea could use several millions more like this woman. Constructive self-criticism is a sign of a mature society.

The Korean ‘world best’ and ‘world first’ [sic] routine is getting a little tired. Enough already. Especially since so much of it is questionable on a good day. It’s hard to tell where Arrirang TV ends and Dear Leader KJI’s mythologies begin.

It really won’t matter what does or does not come out of Hwang’s lab in 9 or 10 days. The point is: it’s coming out of Hwang’s lab. There’s too much at stake for Korea for the results to be anything but glowing and I fully expect a miraculous result to ‘vindicate’ him and his friends in high places.

The guy has already lied twice about his research and also had the gaul to try to pass the blame off on his subordinates when the dong hit the fan. The powers that be in President Roh’s administration are masters at pulling off international PR coups. They’ll stop at nothing to have his work ‘verified’.

Hwang was unimpressive even prior to being caught out. The Europeans, Americans and Japanese have had very tight financial and legal restrictions on stem cell research, number of cell lines available, etc. They were eager to pass on knowledge to South Korean teams to ensure progress in the field while avoiding financial and legal obstacles at home. Hwang has already admitted the research design was American.

I believe the issue may soon be a moot point anyway as the Americans have since found a way to extract stem cells from hair follicles, a much less controversial approach.

Regardless of his future stature in Korea, Hwang can kiss any Nobel or international respect bye-bye.

Roh Sung-il, whose name appears on the scientific article that made the research findings known, also told The Associated Press he wasn’t aware of the paper until it appeared in the journal Science in May.

”Usually a paper is circulated between co-authors before it gets published,” Roh said. ”But due to security concerns, the paper was written just between Professor Hwang and Professor Gerald Schatten…”

And about the two stem cell lines he said were not outright fakes?:
Samples of the two stem cell lines that Hwang’s team created and stored at the Mizmedi Hospital were in the nurturing stage and tests will prove ”if they are patient-specific stem cells from cloned embryos,” Roh told AP.

“But to be honest, I am not sure if these samples are the same ones at Seoul National University,” said Roh, chairman of the board at the hospital.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponlin.....-Cell.html

He’s distanced himself nicely from Hwang & Co.