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<strong><font color = 9c4500>[오늘의 화제] </font></strong> 황우석 박사 건강악화로 입원 – 그를 지원하는 한국인들의 열정뜨거워 (영문기사 첨부)


줄기세포 연구의 선구자인 한국의 황우석 박사가 건강악화로 병원에 입원한 가운데, 황 박사에 대한 한국내 지지는 점점 높아가고 있습니다.

한편, 황 박사 연구과정의 윤리문제를 지적했던 한국의 MBC 문화방송은, 취재과정에서 윤리규정을 위반했다고 시인했습니다. 이에 관한 자세한 보도입니다.

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황우석 박사가는 2주전 난자취득 과정에서 윤리적인 문제가 있었음을 시인한 뒤 잠적했다가 건강악화로 병원에 입원했습니다. 이같이 초췌한 모습은 올해초 인간배아 줄기세포를 최초로 추출해낸 과학자로서 각광을 받던 모습과는 대조적인 것입니다.

황 박사가 입원한 서울대 병원측은 7일, 수면장애와 극심한 스트레스로 황 박사가 탈진해 있는 상태라며, 1주일 정도 안정이 필요하다고 밝혔습니다.

황우석 박사는 지난달, 부하직원들이 기증한 난자를 사용하고 난자를 매매하는 등 난자취득 과정에서 윤리적 문제가 있었음을 시인했습니다. 그리고 황 박사는 모든 공직에서 사퇴한 뒤 잠적했었습니다.

황 박사의 연구동료인 안규리 씨는, 최근 일련의 사태로 황우석 박사의 건강에 무리가 왔다고 밝혔습니다. 안규리 박사는 6일, 황박사가 심한 감기몸살로 건강이 악화돼 당분간 연구실에 복귀하기는 어려울 것이라고 발표했고, 다음날인 7일, 황 박사의 입원사실이 알려졌습니다.

난자취득 과정에서 윤리적 문제가 있었다는 황 박사의 시인에도 불구하고, 황우석 박사와 그의 연구에 대한 한국내 지지는 수그러들 줄을 모릅니다.

노무현 한국 대통령은, 황 교수 팀의 연구성과에 대한 검증문제는 이 정도에서 정리되길 바라고 있다고, 6일, 청와대 대변인이 밝혔습니다.

노무현 대통령은, 여러 퇴행성 질환환자들을 위해 황 박사가 곧 연구실로 복귀하길 바라고있다고, 김만수 청와대 대변인은 말했습니다.

한국의 여당인 열린 우리당과 주요 야당인 한나라당은 함께 황 박사를 지지하기로 뜻을 모으고, 황 박사가 일반대중과의 관계나 홍보 등에 신경쓰지않고, 연구에만 몰두할 수 있도록 돕겠다고 밝혔습니다. 한편, 황 박사에 대한 논란을 불러일으킨 MBC 방송은, 자체 취재과정에서 윤리규정을 위반했다고 시인했습니다.

MBC 방송은 5일, ‘PD수첩’ 제작진들의 취재방식을 사과하는 성명을 방송을 통해 발표했습니다. MBC 방송은, ‘PD수첩’ 취재진들이 위협적인 방법으로 황 박사 동료들이 취재에 응하도록 했음을 시인했습니다.

한국에서 황 박사의 인기가 워낙 높아, ‘PD수첩’ 방영후, MBC 방송의 평판은 크게 떨어지고, 시청자들이 시청금지 운동을 벌임에 따라, 이 프로그램의 광고주들이 광고를 중단하는 사태에 이르게됐습니다. MBC 프로듀서들은, 황 박사의 연구성과 자체에 대해 의구심을 제기하는 두번째 프로그램을 준비해왔으나, 이것이 방영될 수 있을지는 현재 미지수입니다.

황우석 박사의 동료들은, 더 이상 MBC 방송의 취재에 협조하지않을 것이라고 말했으나, 다른 과학자들이 연구결과를 검증하는 것은 막지않겠다고 밝혔습니다.

한편, 황우석 박사의 지지자들은, 황 박사가 입원중인 서울대 병원에서, 황 박사의 쾌유를 비는 촛불 기도회를 열었습니다.

(영문)


Support continues to grow in South Korea for groundbreaking stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-sok, even as he has gone into seclusion to avoid an ongoing ethics controversy. Dr. Hwang's colleagues say the stress has affected his health, while television producers who fueled the controversy are admitting they used unethical tactics.

Nearly two weeks after he admitted covering up questionable ethical practices, Dr. Hwang Woo-sok remains in isolation.

His self-imposed seclusion is a sharp contrast to the high profile he achieved earlier this year, as the first researcher to clone human embryonic stem cells. One of the basic building blocks of the human body, stem cells are viewed as a possible cure for many diseases.

Dr. Hwang publicly admitted last month that he had violated ethical standards, by using human eggs from junior researchers on his staff and paid donors. He resigned from his official positions, and disappeared from public view.

His research colleague, Ahn Gyu-ri, says the stress of recent events has taken a toll on Dr. Hwang's health.

Dr. Ahn says Dr. Hwang is experiencing fatigue and symptoms more severe than a common cold. She says he may possibly enter a hospital soon.

Despite Dr. Hwang's admission of ethical lapses, support for him and his research continues to pour forth at many levels of South Korean society. A spokesman for President Roh Moo-hyun says he hopes the ethics controversy settles down soon.

Mr. Kim says President Roh hopes Dr. Hwang will return to his research lab soon for the sake of people with degenerative diseases.

Lawmakers from South Korea's ruling party and main opposition party have formed a coalition to support Dr. Hwang. They say they will try to help him focus purely on research, rather than being forced to juggle public relations and promotional activities as well.

Meanwhile, the television network that helped expose the ethics scandal is admitting that its own ethics in pursuing the story were questionable.

An announcer for South Korea's MBC network read an on-air apology Sunday for actions taken by the producers of its PD Notebook documentary program. MBC admits the producers intimidated colleagues of Dr. Hwang into taking part in their investigation.

Dr. Hwang is so popular in South Korea that the network suffered a serious blow to its reputation after it aired the expose. The program's advertisers have withdrawn their support following threats of viewer boycotts.

MBC producers had been preparing a second program, this one challenging Dr. Hwang's research. The fate of that program is now in question because of the public backlash.

Dr. Hwang's colleagues say they will no longer cooperate with the network, but will not prevent other scientists from examining their research.


Support continues to grow in South Korea for groundbreaking stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-sok, even as he has gone into seclusion to avoid an ongoing ethics controversy. Dr. Hwang's colleagues say the stress has affected his health, while television producers who fueled the controversy are admitting they used unethical tactics.

Nearly two weeks after he admitted covering up questionable ethical practices, Dr. Hwang Woo-sok remains in isolation.

His self-imposed seclusion is a sharp contrast to the high profile he achieved earlier this year, as the first researcher to clone human embryonic stem cells. One of the basic building blocks of the human body, stem cells are viewed as a possible cure for many diseases.

Dr. Hwang publicly admitted last month that he had violated ethical standards, by using human eggs from junior researchers on his staff and paid donors. He resigned from his official positions, and disappeared from public view.

His research colleague, Ahn Gyu-ri, says the stress of recent events has taken a toll on Dr. Hwang's health.

Dr. Ahn says Dr. Hwang is experiencing fatigue and symptoms more severe than a common cold. She says he may possibly enter a hospital soon.

Despite Dr. Hwang's admission of ethical lapses, support for him and his research continues to pour forth at many levels of South Korean society. A spokesman for President Roh Moo-hyun says he hopes the ethics controversy settles down soon.

Mr. Kim says President Roh hopes Dr. Hwang will return to his research lab soon for the sake of people with degenerative diseases.

Lawmakers from South Korea's ruling party and main opposition party have formed a coalition to support Dr. Hwang. They say they will try to help him focus purely on research, rather than being forced to juggle public relations and promotional activities as well.

Meanwhile, the television network that helped expose the ethics scandal is admitting that its own ethics in pursuing the story were questionable.

An announcer for South Korea's MBC network read an on-air apology Sunday for actions taken by the producers of its PD Notebook documentary program. MBC admits the producers intimidated colleagues of Dr. Hwang into taking part in their investigation.

Dr. Hwang is so popular in South Korea that the network suffered a serious blow to its reputation after it aired the expose. The program's advertisers have withdrawn their support following threats of viewer boycotts.

MBC producers had been preparing a second program, this one challenging Dr. Hwang's research. The fate of that program is now in question because of the public backlash.

Dr. Hwang's colleagues say they will no longer cooperate with the network, but will not prevent other scientists from examining their research.

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