SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korean discredit researcher Hwang Woo-suk made a public apology on Thursday for fabrication in his two papers published in U.S.-based journal of Science.

South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk apologizes to nation at National Press Center in Seoul, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006. (AP photo)

    "I sincerely apologize to the nation for using erroneous data in the papers," said Hwang at a press conference held at the Press Center Building in central Seoul.

    His apology came two days after the Seoul National University (SNU) concluded Hwang had never created embryonic stem cells and that he played a part in the fabrication of data for at least one of his papers published by Science in 2004 and 2005.

    The researcher admitted at the televised press conference he had paid a "small amount" of compensation to ova donors and used ova donated by two fellow researchers in his team during the stem cell research.

    However, he maintained his previous stance that someone switched his original stem cell lines with vitro fertilized samples brought from MizMedi Hospital, a fertility clinic in Seoul.

    Hwang hinted the MizMedi Hospital, who was responsible for procuring human eggs for Hwang's team, also played major role in the scandal.

    Several researchers of the hospital assumed important job in Hwang's researches on stem cells, according to Hwang.

    Hwang claimed it was MizMedi Hospital who was responsible for cultivating stem cell lines and conducting DNA tests on the stem cell lines.

    At the same time, Hwang insisted his previous allegation that his team holds crucial "source technology" of producing stem cells.

    On Thursday's press conference, Hwang claimed his team's technology of cultivating blastocysts is still in the leading place in the world.

    A blastocyst is an embryo at a stage where it consists of 60 to120 cells. With its inner cells still undifferentiated, the blastocyst is the crucial sources of embryonic stem cells.

    Stem cells are primal undifferentiated cells which retain the ability to differentiate into other cell types. Medical researchers believe stem cell research has the potential to find new way to treat hard-to-cure diseases by developing stem cells to specific tissues or organs.

    Early Thursday, South Korean prosecutors raided the house of the discredited stem cell researcher Hwang and 25 other locations to secure evidence on his fabrication of stem cell research data in two papers published by a U.S.-based journal.

    A special investigation team was already formed by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Wednesday.

    The South Korean government already decided on Wednesday to stop financial aid and to strip him of his status as the nation's first "Top Scientist." Enditem