Hwang Woo-suk, embroiled in ‘stem cell controversy,’ switches nationality from South Korea to the UAE

[Financial News] It has been confirmed that former Seoul National University professor Hwang Woo-suk, who was embroiled in controversy over the stem cell paper fabrication case, acquired UAE nationality and lost his South Korean nationality.
According to the Ministry of Justice’s Cheongju Immigration Office on the 9th, it was officially announced on August 13 that Hwang, who was born in 1953, had lost his South Korean nationality.
The date of the loss of nationality was recorded as April 9 this year, with the acquisition of UAE nationality listed as the reason.
Article 15 of the Nationality Act of the Republic of Korea provides: ‘A person who is a national of the Republic of Korea and voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality shall lose their nationality of the Republic of Korea at the time they acquire that foreign nationality.’
Given that the former professor has recently been active in the UAE, that his year of birth matches, and that the registered domicile listed in the notice is in Buyeo County, South Chungcheong Province, his region of origin, it appears to be the same person.
A Ministry of Justice official explained, however, that ‘Information beyond the facts stated in the notice cannot be disclosed.’
In 2005, former professor Hwang drew worldwide attention after publishing a research paper in the international journal Science claiming that he had been the first in the world to successfully extract and culture human embryonic stem cells. However, after the paper fabrication was later revealed, he was dismissed from his position as a professor at Seoul National University in 2006. He was also stripped of his status as the first top scientist designated by the government.
He was also indicted on charges of concealing the paper fabrication to obtain grants or embezzling research funds (embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes), and in 2014 received a final sentence of 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.
[email protected] Kim Dong-gyu Reporter