Preliminary approval has been given for clinical trials for a human embryonic stem cell-based therapy on a human patient for the first time in South Korea.

The presidential National Committee on Bioethics decided Wednesday that the clinical trials, for treating a retina disorder, do not violate the current bioethics law.

This is the first time clinical trials using embryonic stem cells have been permitted in South Korea. The Korea Food and Drug Administration will decide on giving the final approval.

The subjects of the clinical trials will be those afflicted by Stargardt disease, a type of macula degeneration caused by a genetic mutation.