An ethnic Korean professor at Harvard Medical School says South Korea's stem cell research and bioengineering have a rosy future despite the fraud scandal of scientist Hwang Woo-suk.

Kim Kwang-soo on Thursday said the country has great potential and possibility in the two fields and will soon become an advanced nation for scientific development.

Also a stem cell scientist, he said blame should not go only on Hwang and urged the South Korean people, media, government and scientists to use the scandal as an opportunity for rebirth.

Kim, however, said reflection is needed if people ignore truth and conscience all for the sake of economic and scientific development.

A graduate of Hwang's alma mater Seoul National University, Kim is studying degenerative neurological diseases at Harvard.