A controversy has arisen in the Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) research area over suspected collusion with private businesses.
Some researchers have not presented the research results funded by private companies for over a year but have yet to encounter any problems. In some cases, the researchers belatedly submitted results after being accused by the hospital's internal audit.
Rep. Seo Dong-yong of the Democratic Party of Korea, a National Assembly's Education Committee member, released an internal report submitted by SNUH and his analysis of the audit and its follow-up measures on Wednesday, raising the possibility of collusive ties between researchers and private companies.
According to SNUH’s clinical research regulations, the principal investigator must submit a report within two years of the end of the study. If a researcher fails to submit a report without a legitimate reason, the clinical research committee will suspend the study and have them return the research funds.
However, Rep. Seo found that 61 research projects conducted by the SNUH Biomedical Research Institute and the Gangnam Center violated research regulations and failed to submit timely results reports. Forty-five researchers were involved. According to the hospital’s audit, the average period of non-compliance was 338 days. The longest was 707 days.
The lawmaker also raised the possibility of collusion between private companies and SNUH researchers. Of the 61 research projects that violated research regulations, 51 were supported by external organizations, including private companies. SNUH’s self-financed research projects totaled only 10.
To be specific, an SNUH doctor submitted a project report on June 7, 2023, well past the deadline of June 30, 2021. The period of non-compliance was 707 days. The researcher received 11 million won ($8,200) from a private company.
Another doctor was 338 days late in submitting his report. He also received 39.77 million won from a private company.
Yet another physician was awarded 14 assignments from eight private companies but failed to keep a single deadline to submit results. He was 389 days late on four assignments and 390 days late on 10 assignments. The total amount of money he received from these companies was 139.28 million won.
"All this shows that the research management system of Seoul National University Hospital is not working properly. There was no problem even though the result report requested by the private company was not submitted for a year,” Rep. Seo said. “I can't help but suspect collusive ties between private companies and doctors at SNUH, including kickbacks."