South Korea

Korea enthusiastically supports high-tech and promising fields of sciences including stem cell research. The government, the media and the general public all share similarly welcoming views on such research despite persistent objections on embryonic stem cell research from a section of religious groups.

The new Bioethics and Safety Act for Korea became effective as of December 6, 2008.

This act aims to enhance the health of human beings and the quality of human life. It does this by creating conditions that allow for the development of life sciences and biotechnologies that can be used to prevent or cure human diseases. Additionally, the act aims to protect human dignity and to prevent harm to human beings. It ensures that these life sciences and biotechnologies are developed safely and in accordance with the principles of bioethics.
 
In the revised law:

  • SCNT will be allowed using human eggs that are left over after IVF
  • The use of hES cells is now permitted (not derivation of them) for research purposes, but must be approved from IRB (previously, permission from the Ministry of Health and Welfare was required)
  • Reproductive cloning and interspecies SCNT are banned.


The Korean Government is relatively permissive on various forms of stem cell research from embryonic stem cells, SCNT, iPS generation and adult stem cells.

Full text of the revised Bioethics and Safety Act is available from: http://www.mbbnet.umn.edu/scmap/KoreanBioethics.pdf

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST)

Basic research in Korea is primarily coordinated and funded under the MEST. Two agencies of MEST, KOSEF (Korea Science and Engineering Foundation, agency of former Ministry of Science and Technology) and KRF (Korea Research Foundation, agency of former Ministry of Education) are the main sources of competitive grants to academic and government research labs. KOSEF and KRF are expected to merge later this year as a massive restructuring to better serve and cultivate a science & technology-based society and other academic activities. The KRF supports exchange of junior scientists and outstanding student researchers through the International exchange program (as of individual grant).

Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs (MIHWFA)

The MIHWFA focuses on program grants and support for specified areas of research (including public health and welfare).

21st Century Frontier R&D Programs, Stem Cell Research Centre.

Korea enthusiastically supports high-tech and promising fields of sciences including stem cell research. The government, the media and the general public all share similarly welcoming views on such research despite persistent objections on embryonic stem cell research from a section of religious groups.