South Korean Cloning Revival

Following up on South Korea’s renewed stem cell interest, the Korean National Bioethics Committee decided to go all in. By a 12-8 vote, the South Korean embargo on therapeutic cloning has been partially lifted. Under the resolution, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will revise relevant regulations to pick many domestic institutes for embryonic cloning […]

Following up on South Korea's renewed stem cell interest, the Korean National Bioethics Committee decided to go all in. By a 12-8 vote, the South Korean embargo on therapeutic cloning has been partially lifted.

175_scntUnder the resolution, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will revise relevant regulations to pick many domestic institutes for embryonic cloning research.

``We seek to forward the revision bill to the Assembly for passage late this year. Should it okay the revision, studies with cloned embryos will resume early next year,’’ said Yang Byung-guk, director at the ministry.

To the dismay of at least one scientist, the new regulations will not permit the use of freshly donated eggs for cloning.

``Do you think the government permits cloned stem cell research? No, it doesn’t. With surplus eggs, experiments are meaningless,’’ Prof. Park Se-pill at Cheju National University said.

Park can thank Hwang Woo-suk for this restriction.

Korea to Allow Cloned Stem Cell Research [The Korea Times]