The National Bioethics Committee will decide Wednesday whether or not to allow embryonic stem cell research.

The committee will convene a full session to deliberate on a research plan submitted by Professor Jung Hyung-min’s team at Cha Hospital on the development of cell treatment using human embryonic stem cells.

The results of the session are due to be announced at the Ministry of Health and Welfare later on Wednesday afternoon.

The committee is reportedly leaning toward allowing embryonic stem cell research. However, some committee members remain vehemently opposed to the matter.

The committee had initially planned to meet on April tenth for further talks on the proposed research, but postponed the meeting amid strong requests from some committee members.

The government has maintained its ban since 2006 after cloning expert Hwang Woo-suk was found to have fabricated data in his controversial stem cell studies.