There is no doubt that we produced 11 patient-specific stem cells and possess the core technology to create them again.
We were crazy, crazy about our work. But I was blinded. All I could see was whether I could make Korea stand in the center of the world through this research.
I apologize to the people for creating an unspeakable shock and disappointment. I step down as professor of Seoul National University.
I apologize for creating this uproar both in and out of Korea. The fact remains that our research team was successful in creating stem cells from patients' skin cells. Still, there were mistakes made, human errors, in taking photographs and in the preservation of the stem cells.
I feel so miserable it is difficult even to say sorry. I will be repenting for this for the rest of my life.
I feel so crushed and humiliated that I hardly have the energy to say I am sorry. I seek your forgiveness.
I take full responsibility for the papers and offer you my apology.
I respectfully ask legal authorities to launch an investigation as soon as possible. I am desperate to find out who switched the samples for what motive and how.
Our research team made patient-specific embryonic stem cells and we have the technology to produce them.
I would like to have time to confirm the validity of the technology.
When the use of these stem cells is limited to a particular country, it takes much too long to create technologies usable for the whole humanity. By creating a global network, we plan to share stem cells created in each country and share information on those stem cells.
As the lead author of the papers in which fake data appeared, I hold myself wholly responsible and I admit it and apologize.
I sincerely apologize to the people for creating a shock and disappointment.
I sincerely apologize to the nation for using erroneous data in the papers.
I sincerely apologize to the nation and the international community for using erroneous data in the papers. I was responsible for going over the data thoroughly, and if I had done so, we would have been able to avoid this huge crisis.
Technology for patient-specific embryonic stem cells belongs to South Korea. And you will find out that this is true.
After analyzing the data, our team concluded that the results . . . could not be trusted.
The replacement took place under a detailed plan over quite a long period of time.
The researcher should have told me that he was not able to culture stem cells. I really don't know why he put Korea to shame and sent shockwaves worldwide.
I truly find it difficult even to say I am apologetic (for the fabrication).
Dogs share physiological characteristics with humans. A lot of diseases that occur in dogs can be directly transferred to humans.
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.
I definitely have the source technology to produce tailored embryonic stem cells. I can replicate the process anytime.
I ask for your forgiveness. I feel so miserable that it's difficult even to say sorry.
