The achievements of stem cell pioneer Hwang Woo-suk could receive designation as a national core technology, making them eligible for state subsidies for overseas patents.

The Korean Intellectual Property Office on Wednesday said it will revise legislation to that end and review the technological value of Hwang's research, adding state funding could start as early as next month if approved.

Hwang's research team has applied for patents in the United States for two cases of cultivation technology of stem cell lines based on embryonic cloning, and is expected to apply in other countries.