Hwang Woo Suk: From Pride of Korea to....

I recall one of the highlights of last Summer was hearing that the world's first cloned dog, SNUPPY, did not come from the US or Europe, but from South Korea. I think this was a huge highlight and advancement for not only science, but Asia as a whole. It clearly showed that Korea was not catching up with the rest of the world, but was now in this elite circle and was making contributions. Basically, after SNUPPY was created, Hwang Woo Suk, the creater, became known as "The Pride of Korea." He got god-like status at Seoul National University, free transportation by Korean Airlines, and basically became as respected as anyone can get. I, myself, also viewed him as Asian Hero. Stem cell research was and is a hot topic and he was taking full advantage that it was not being pursued in the US. Hwang's work gave hope to millions of people around the world.

Imagine my dismay, when his image as the "Pride of Korea" went into flames. Although tests show that SNUPPY was indeed REAL, his later studies were proved to be fabricated. Hwang was fired from SNU and jail charges are being considered. So my question is, what are your thoughts on Hwang Woo Suk? Was he a national hero? Is he still one? Did he even know what he was doing?

In Korea, the term ba-lee, which means quick is often said. Despite being practically destroyed after the Korean War, South Korea has come a long way since those days. Did Hwang have this mentality/ pressure on him? The government and media kept painting him as a superman and wanted to constantly see results. When questioned after the scandal broke out, he constantly states that if given 90 days, he can back up his findings. Should Hwang be given another chance?

- Alex Liu