Government support for stem cell research will continue this year despite the fraud scandal of Hwang Woo-suk.

The Science and Technology Ministry said Thursday that the annual state budget for stem cell research will see a significant increase this year and next year from last year's 27 billion won.

The ministry will set up a state-run bank for embryonic stem cells with the leading medical institutes MizMedi Women's Hospital and Cha Medical Center.

A new human resources network will also link ethnic Korean researchers around the world.

An official said the ministry will seek to secure all human resources and technology it can except from Hwang, though acknowledging the high level of animal cloning technology of his team.