The Institutional Review Board of Seoul National University has urged domestic news media to support instead of denounce stem cell pioneer Hwang Woo-suk.

Board chairman Lee Young-soon on Thursday expressed regret over how voluntary ova donations by Hwang's two assistants erupted into a huge controversy, blaming differing opinions between South Koreans and foreigners.

In the process of investigating the matter, Lee said the board all came to sympathize with Hwang's sincerity and his team's candor.

Urging news media to support and encourage Hwang, the chairman said it is wrong to assume that the scientist violated the Declaration of Helsinki.

The 1964 declaration is a set of guidelines on human experimentation, calling for researchers to use caution when they hold power over test subjects.

The Health and Welfare Ministry earlier cleared Hwang's team of legal or ethical violations in securing ova for experiments.