South Korea: Human Embryo Research

Abstract

the Korean Bioethics Advisory Commission (KBAC), sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, published a set of recommendations for biotechnological research and application, including scientific experiments with human embryos. Four days later, the KBAC held a public hearing to finalize its recommendations. Since then, public reaction and debate over the ethical aspects of human embryo research have actively surfaced. Most leaders of religious organizations, especially Catholic churches, objected to any type of embryo research. On the other hand, some leaders of the scientific community supported freer scientific research on human embryos.The KBAC recommendations, as well as the guidelines on the safety of biotechnology research from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will influence the legislative process of the National Assembly when the hearing is held. 1 The Science, Technology, Information, and Telecommunication Committee of the National Assembly inquires into specific information on bioethical issues surrounding scientific research on human embryos. The committee plans to propose a bill governing the bioethical issues of biotechnological research and application during the next legislative session. Opponents of the KBAC recommendations were also organized as an ad hoc committee. 2 These activists demanded that some of the KBAC recommendations be amended.This article aims to clarify some of the major issues and positions of different groups that are involved in the dispute over scientific research on the human embryo and the KBAC recommendations.