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Abstract
On September 28, 2016, the National Academy of Medicine of Korea (NAMOK, President
Namsik Chung) hosted the 7th NAMOK Academic Forum at Yonsei University, Seoul. The
theme of the forum was “Review the past 10 years after the Woo Suk Hwang’s case.”
The forum was chaired by Prof. Yoon-Seong Lee (Seoul National University, Seoul),
President of the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.
The invited speaker, Prof. In Young Lee (College of Law, Hongik University, Seoul)
reviewed facts of ethical violations by Woo Suk Hwang and summarized legal actions
after the dismissal of his professorship by Seoul National University in 2006. There
had been debates over the penalties incurred, but the Supreme Court of Korea finally
released its verdict in 2014, indicating that Woo Suk Hwang was guilty of misappropriation
of research grant funds and violation of the Law on Bioethics and Safety. The Supreme
Court also concluded that the dismissal of Wook Suk Hwang from the Seoul National
University was justified, considering his research misconduct and embezzlement. Prof.
Lee also analyzed cultural and political background of the Hwang’s case and suggested
several strategies to upgrade research ethics.
Several panelists critically overviewed various aspects of the Hwang’s case. Prof.
Il-Hoan Oh (The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul) touched upon the conspired populism
and political orientation in science and pointed to the ‘scientific backwardness and
blindness’ across top global journals, such as the Cell, Nature, and Science.
The journalist Yanggu Kang (The Pressian) stressed that Woo Suk Hwang is still actively
involved in research, and most of his unethical collaborators continue working in
the same research laboratories. He reflected on what had changed after the incident
of bioethics violations and research misconduct, and pointed to the threats of ‘blind
science’ that undermine philosophy and ethical considerations.
Prof. Hwansuk Kim (Kookmin University, Seoul) pointed out that those involved in scientific
research must be held accountable for the procedures and outcomes. He also introduced
the “Responsible Research and Innovation” movement.
Dr. Myunghee Kim (Korea National Institute for Bioethics Policy, Seoul) reflected
on ethical issues of ovum donation by artificially hyperovulating women. The donation
was initially proposed as a humane and ethical procedure, but numerous violations
surfaced in the real life. She deplored ignorance of health problems of ovum donors
and violation of related bioethical rules.
Prof. Myung-Hee Chung (Gachon University, Seongnam; Chair of the Investigation Committee
in Seoul National University in 2006) raised concerns that the same research misconduct
has taken place over the past 10 years in Korea. He highlighted two confounding factors
related to research environment in Korea. The first one is the compromised grant funding
system. It is highly competitive and complicated due to the governmental strategy
of selection and concentration of the grants. As a result, small groups of supported
researchers manage surplus funds while numerous researchers face financial obstacles
to undertaking research. In addition, the pressure to publish escalates in Korea while
the perception of ethical transgressions remains low. He emphasized the role of consistent
efforts and actions to educate young researchers, upgrade research ethics, and penalize
all violators.
Prof. Ock-Joo Kim (Seoul National University) overviewed the research ethics status
in Korea after the Hwang’s case. The Korean society realized the importance of ethical
research and introduced the institutional review board system for all biomedical research.
Lessons from the Hwang’s case should be kept in mind. It is surprising that Woo Suk
Hwang is still active in research. Any researcher who commits misconduct and crime
must be excluded from the scientific community. Editors of scholarly journals should
not accept any article by Woo Suk Hwang. Korean research administrators should realize
threats of directing grant flows to handful researchers exploring fancy topics and
revise their current strategy of concentration. The interference of politics in research
grant allocations must be avoided with emphasis placed on the diversification of financial
flows and support of large bottom-up research groups. The system of grant funds and
incentives reserved for only ethical researchers is essential for clearing research
environment and advancing science in Korea.
Speakers and participants of the 7th NAMOK Academic Forum, Seoul, Korea.
Role: Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Korean Medical Science
Journal
Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Korean Med Sci
Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J. Korean Med. Sci
Journal ID (publisher-id): JKMS
Title:
Journal of Korean Medical Science
Publisher:
The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences
ISSN
(Print):
1011-8934
ISSN
(Electronic):
1598-6357
Publication date
(Print):
November
2016
Publication date
(Electronic):
04
October
2016
Volume: 31
Issue: 11
Pages: 1671-1672
Affiliations
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College
of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Author notes
Address for Correspondence: Sung-Tae Hong, MD. Department of Parasitology and Tropical
Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu,
Seoul 03080, Korea.
hst@
123456snu.ac.kr
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