University Apologizes Over South Korean Researcher's Fake Stem Cell 

SEOUL, South Korea

      South Korea's top university this week apologized for the scandal over Hwang Woo-suk's faked stem cell research, calling it a blemish on the country that embraced the scientist as a national hero.

      The government said it would withdraw Hwang's ``top scientist'' title — an honor created especially for him in the wake of purported breakthroughs that raised hopes for using stem cells to develop new treatments of diseases from Alzheimer's to diabetes.

      Seoul National University's apology came a day after its investigative panel confirmed that Hwang faked all of his human stem cell research, including his landmark 2004 claim in the journal Science that he cloned a human embryo and extracted stem cells from it.

      ``I, as the president of the university, sincerely apologize to the public,'' Chung Un-chan, the head of the state-run institution, told a nationally televised news conference.

      He called Hwang's fraud a ``blemish on the whole scientific community as well as our country'' and a ``criminal act in academia.''

      Chung said he would seek punishment for Hwang, professor of veterinary medicine at the university, and other researchers on his team.

      ``I will deal with the situation strictly'' based on the findings of the investigation, he said.

      Hwang has made no public appearances since last month and his whereabouts are unknown. The Korea Press Foundation said he plans to hold a news conference this week. The university says he has not yet formally offered to step down.

      Also this week, the National Police Agency said it will no longer guard Hwang's residence around the clock as it had since May 2005. Police had also provided escorts for Hwang until November, when he requested that the service be stopped.