Former Seoul National University professor Hwang Woo-seok, who received the 2004 Presidential Award, was canceled due to manipulation of thesis, and finally rejected the government's request to return 300 million won.



The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning announced on the 23rd that it is planning to receive the prize money back in accordance with the National Bond Management Act. "We will file a civil lawsuit as soon as it is ready."



After the award was canceled, the Ministry of Science and ICT requested the return of the prize money and sent a reminder to Professor Hwang, but Professor Hwang did not return the prize until midnight yesterday, the deadline for returning the prize.




An official from the Ministry of Science and ICT explained, "According to the law, Professor Hwang is obligated to return the prize money received," and said, "The government secures a bond for the prize money."



The lawsuit claim amount is expected to be at least 300 million won in the existing prize money, but it may exceed 300 million won depending on the interest in the past.



An official from the Ministry of Science and ICT said, "The minimum lawsuit is 300 million won, but there are cases in which interest is added so that further review is needed."



The litigation schedule has not yet been set.



The Ministry of Science and ICT will file a complaint with the court having jurisdiction over Professor Hwang's domestic address.



Professor Hwang is currently known to be staying in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).



Professor Hwang Jeon received public attention by publishing the world's first research results obtained by culturing and extracting human embryonic stem cells in 2004, when he was at Seoul National University, in the international journal Science.



At the time, Prof. Hwang received the Presidential Award for this achievement,'Korea's Best Science and Technology Award' and a prize of 300 million won.



However, when the thesis was fabricated, it was expelled from Seoul National University in 2005, and the Ministry of Science and ICT withdrew from Professor Hwang's No. 1 Chief Scientist in 2006.



The'Korea's Best Science and Technology Award', which was not canceled at the time due to lack of relevant regulations, was canceled in October, 16 years after the award was awarded.



At the same time, the Ministry of Science and ICT asked Professor Hwang to return the prize money of 300 million won, but Professor Hwang refused to do so, saying that he had donated the entire amount to the National Basic Technology Research Society (currently the National Science and Technology Research Society) at the time of award in 2004.



(Photo = Yonhap News)