South Korea’s disgraced stem-cell scientist Hwang Woo-suk has appealed to the Education Ministry in protest of Seoul National University’s decision to dismiss him as a professor, a ministry official said yesterday.
Mr. Hwang was sacked from the university on March 20 as he was under criminal investigation by prosecutors over the fabrication of research data and alleged embezzlement of state and civilian donations for his research team.
“Mr. Hwang filed an appeal with our commission yesterday, claiming Seoul National University’s decision is unfair,” said an official, who asked not to be named, at the ministry’s Appeal Commission for Teachers. “We will make a decision in 60 to 90 days as stipulated by law after reviewing the contents of the appeal and hearing opinions from both sides.”
However, education officials see little possibility of Mr. Hwang regaining his SNU professorship. “We expected this would happen, and will respond according to due proceedings,” an SNU official said.