Renowned Korean stem cell researchers based abroad are meeting in Seoul to discuss the future of their field.

Organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the meeting brings together top Korean stem cell scientists, including U.S.-based Professor Yoon Yeong-sup of Tufts University and Professor Choi Kyung-hee of Washington University.

Yoon and Choi plan to discuss successful stem cell research at their respective universities and propose policies to foster similar activities in Korea.

The Science Ministry plans to inject around 430 billion won into stem cell research over the next ten years to spur a domestic resurgence in the field.

In 2004, the nation was poised to take the lead in stem cell research when then-Seoul National University Professor Hwang Woo-suk claimed in two leading international journals to have created human embryonic stem cells by cloning.

However, he was tried on charges of fraud and violating bioethics laws after his team was found in early 2006 to have submitted faked data for embryonic stem cell research to the two journals.