In 2004 and 2005, South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk published papers on the successful cloning of human embryonic stem cells. This scientific breakthrough was worth a stamp issued by the Korean postal administration on February 12, 2005.

In November 2005, there were first discussions about the results, in which it turned out that the scientist had acquired the respective cells in an unethical way. In January 2006, an investigation finally showed that the results of the publications were falsified, i.e. that fraud had occurred. As a result, the stamp was withdrawn from sale.