Supporters of stem-cell doctor issued restraining order

Seoun National University’s president, Chung Un-chan(right) and its research dean Roe Jung-hye.

Court cites repeated harrassment of university professor, dean

A court has issued a restraining order on supporters of disgraced former Seoul National University professor Hwang Woo-suk, prohibiting them from approaching the university’s president, Chung Un-chan, and its research dean, Roe Jung-hye. The two men have for months been the target of Dr. Hwang’s supporters, who say the two conspired to ruin the genetic researcher.

Mr. Chung and Ms. Roe were key figures in the university’s disciplinary actions against Dr. Hwang and his team of researchers, who were found to have fabricated data in a paper published in the journal Science.

Since Dr. Hwang’s fall from grace, dozens of his supporters have regularly attacked the two university administrators verbally and, on occasion, physically. Tired of what they see as harassment, the two recently asked a court to issue restraining orders on nine of Dr. Hwang’s followers, and on Wednesday the Seoul Central District Court sided in their favor.

The order states that the nine supporters, when on the grounds of Seoul National University, are prohibited from going within 10 meters of any vehicle in which Mr. Chung or Ms. Roe is riding. The nine are also prohibited from distributing printed matter, or using signs or megaphones to convey threats, insults, or similarly abusive language on the university campus.

Off campus, the nine are prohibited from going within 100 meters of either Mr. Chung or Ms. Roe. Each individual violation of the order will result in a 500,000 won (500 USD) fine.