Disgraced cloning researcher begs for forgiveness

An embattled South Korean stem cell researcher publicly apologized Thursday, saying he was deceived by two junior researchers but would still take full responsibility for his fraudulent claims.

"I ask for your forgiveness," Hwang Woo-suk told a nationally televised news conference in Seoul, in his first appearance in three weeks. "I feel so miserable that it's difficult even to say sorry."

"The use of fake data ... is what I have to take full responsibility for as first author. I acknowledge all of that and apologize once again."

• FROM DEC. 16, 2005: South Korean scientist stands behind stem cell research

In May 2004, Hwang claimed he created the first patient-matched stem cells from cloned human embryos. The ground-breaking results were published in the respected journal Science.

The development held the promise of creating tailored therapies for hard-to-treat diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's.

Earlier this week, Seoul National University, where Hwang was a professor, issued a final report that his landmark claims about stem cell research had indeed been fabricated. Hwang insisted his research was true for several weeks after another colleague raised questions.