Sejong University unveils S. Korea's first cultured meat prototype

A research team from Sejong University's science of biotechnology department has unveiled a cultured meat prototype for the first time in the country.

The team from Sejong University in Seoul came up with a prototype of cell-based meat by culturing muscle stem cells from pig skeletal muscle. The process need not result in slaughtering animals.

The team, which began the research in 2018 by isolating muscle cells from the skeletal muscle biopsy of an animal, was led by Professor Park Sungkwon.

The research was conducted with Seoul National University and Space F, a startup specializing in cultured meat products and supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.

The Sejong University researchers aim to commercialize the technology but woud need further research and optimization, according to Professor Park.

They have also completed the development of cultured beef and are set to release its prototype in the coming months.