SEOUL, Jan. 22 (Aju News) -- South Korea vowed Monday to ease tight and outdated regulations on gene therapy research amid growing complaints in the domestic medical community that South Korea is well behind advanced countries in the related sector.
The prime minister's office said in a statement Monday that any kinds of research into gene therapy would be allowed if they meet certain requirements. Currently, South Korea allows research on certain diseases such as AIDS, genetic disorders and cancer.
The government will ease regulations first and revise a related law later through parliamentary debate in February, the prime minister's office said, adding the government would expand the scope of organ transplanting from kidneys, liver and heart to limbs and facial tissues.