Woo-Suk Hwang, the South Korean scientist who admitted to faking his results on embryonic stem cells, is exploring whether to join an international consortium, according to Korean news reports.

According to multiple unnamed sources, Hwang is in Thailand where he is debating whether to work with foreign biotechnology companies, including one "prominent" US company.

Once a national hero, Hwang left his post at Seoul National University in 2005 amid accusations of ethical lapses and fabricated data. Last year, he was indicted for research fraud and embezzlement of funds.

Hwang has some Korean supporters who argue that his mistakes were inadvertent, and he deserves another chance. If these latest reports are true, it looks like some companies may agree.