(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on May 2)

Stem cell research

A main obstacle to stem cell research abroad originates in the belief that
science is encroaching on what many regard as the domain of divinity. Critics,
many of them religiously oriented, say that the divine order of nature must not
be disturbed, let alone altered, by gene manipulation or any other scientific
method.

Ethical problems are raised about the destruction of a fertilized human egg as a
human life. Then comes a deep-rooted fear about the use of embryonic stem cells
in human cloning, with shocking implications beyond imagination.
There should be many Koreans who share such concerns. Yet, their opposition was
not the main cause of a ban, imposed three years ago, on embryonic stem cell
research. Instead, it was public uproar against fraud found in studies conducted
by former professor Hwang Woo-suk of Seoul National University. Hwang and his
team of researchers were denounced for doctoring key data in their embryonic stem
cell studies.
The disclosure of fraud was a devastating blow to the Korean government, which
had heavily financed Hwang's research projects. The scam involving Hwang and
several other misguided scientists was also seen to be an act of disgrace for the
entire science community in Korea. No wonder the Korean government had turned
down requests for approval of embryonic stem cell research until recently.
The government appeared to have recovered from the shock when it decided earlier
in the week to allow the resumption of research in human embryonic cell cloning.
The decision to grant a license to researchers at the Global Cha Health Systems
Group, though long overdue, still deserves to be welcomed.
Yet, the presidential bioethics commission hedged its approval with restrictions,
which some scientists regard as onerous. Apparently in an attempt to caution
people against getting their hopes up, the commission also banned the use of the
phrase "capable of curing (hitherto incurable) diseases," in describing the
purpose of the research project. But if the ultimate goal is not the cure of the
diseases, what else can it be?
Korea, a world leader in human embryonic stem cell research three years ago, now
has much catching up to do. Scientists say many other countries are ahead in the
race to develop treatments for diseases with the use of stem cells - diabetes,
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's to name only a few. Moreover, they say, the latest
decision by U.S. President Barack Obama to lift many of the restrictions on
financing embryonic stem cell studies will encourage massive investment in this
research area in the United States.
Nothing should be as effective in encouraging advances in embryonic stem cell
research as official funding, which may be used as seed money. It may not be
possible for the Korean government to spend as much as 11.3 billion won to assist
an individual scientist in his research projects as it did for Hwang Woo-suck
from 1998 to 2005. But it goes without saying that it will have to set aside a
large portion of its research budget for stem cell studies.
The government's proven policy of selecting a few areas for technological
development and concentrating funding on them certainly can be applied to stem
cell research. If our memory serves us right, the government promised back in May
2006 to invest heavily in the area until the nation becomes the third-most
powerful by 2015. All it needs to do now is dust off its master plan for stem
cell research and start funding as scheduled.
The government is well advised to loosen its regulations on research to the
extent permissible. It certainly will be able to make up for it by strengthening
regulatory supervision.
(END)