US journal withdraws paper by Korean stem cell researcher

A U.S.-based academic journal has withdrawn a paper written by a Seoul National University stem cell researcher over the latter`s inclusion of a photo that had previously been released by other scientists.

Antacid Replication Service was confirmed Monday to have withdrawn four papers registered by Dr. Kang Soo-kyung, who is a member of 21st Century Frontier, a cell application research center, and a steady performer in stem cell research.

Eight people requesting anonymity sent email messages to 10 international journals including Antacid raising suspicion over duplicate photo postings on papers that Kang participated in as corresponding author. A corresponding author is someone responsible for overall research.

The informants made a 70-page slide on suspicions surrounding 14 papers Kang published as a corresponding author from 2006 to 2012. They claimed she used photos that had been posted earlier in other people`s papers, saying the same photo was used in a number of other papers.

Antacid`s editorial team requested an explanation from Kang and erased the four papers, and is also examining if the photo posting was an error or intentional.

In response, Kang claimed she made a mistake, saying, "This was a mistake I made in the process of announcing new research on a paper. It wasn`t intentional."

Behind the dispute was Biology Research Information Center, the origin of the research fraud committed by stem cell scientist Hwang Woo-suk exposed in 2005. Debate has heated up since the withdrawal of Kang`s paper from a global prominent journal was made known to the center.

Seoul National University will hold a committee meeting for truth examination after Antacid releases its review results. The Korean Society for Stem Cell Research will announce its official stance Tuesday.