Seoul (AsiaNews) "It is a disgrace" that won't allow Korea to "face the world," said Card Stephen Kim Sou-hwan in an interview with Pyonghwa-Shinmun, the diocese of Seoul weekly. He spoke tearfully about the scandals that befell Prof Hwang Woo-suk, the so-called therapeutic cloning "pioneer". In his view, Prof Hwang's case is not something that can be solely attributed to one person or group but "affects our entire society, which has lost the value of honesty".
In the interview, which was picked up by major national media and news bulletins, the prelate said he hoped the crisis "would help us look back and see how we ignored truth".
"What we really need is the right attitude towards truth. The only way to correct and salvage the current situation is to restore honesty and truth," he explained.
Considered a national hero at home, Prof Hwang's research was funded by the government, to the tune of US$ 40 ( 33 million) so far.
His reputation began going downhill when a co-author in his research, Roh Sung-il, said the photos in their published paper were fakes.
A nine-member independent commission of inquiry determined that the data the South Korean scientist published in the journal Science were falsified.
Today, Professor Hwang resigned his post at the University of Seoul.
