More details about the golden years of disgraced stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk have emerged in a book by a Korean journalist. Lee Sung-joo, of the newspaper Donga Ilbo, accuses his colleagues in "The Country of Hwang Woo-suk" of giving Hwang a dream run in return for lavish favours. In one instance, Hwang pressured two newspapers to go easy on a scandal surrounding the president of his university.

Hwang also gave reporters his own credit card to use on meals and drinks. Several reporters were given "scholarships" as a reward for their loyalty, including Yonhap News Agency, Chosun Ilbo and KBS broadcasting. Although some reporters were objective, Lee says, others acted like members of Hwang's public relations team.