Disgraced Clone Expert Barred from Work

South Korea will not allow disgraced cloning expert Hang Woo-suk to resume human stem cell research, it has been reported.

Hwang's request was turned down by the country's national committee on bioethics, Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday.

The health ministry declined to comment on the report but said it would brief the media on Friday.

"He engaged in unethical and wrongful acts in the past and the committee decided to reject it," a source who took part in the committee meeting was quoted by Yonhap as saying.

"One committee member strongly argued that it would bring shame on the whole country," the source said.

Hwang's claims that he created the first human stem cells through cloning were ruled to be bogus, and he is banned from research using human eggs.

But the scientist is now engaged in animal cloning at the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, which in December asked for the green light to begin a new embryonic stem cell research project using aborted human eggs.

Still on trial for fraud, embezzlement, ethical breaches and other charges, Hwang has...