South Korea’s discredited cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-Suk on Thursday admitted his research into stem cells was faked but claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy -- the latest twist in his stunning fall from grace. As the 52-year-old Hwang, once hailed as a national hero and showered with millions of dollars in research grants, delivered a rambling apology to the media, criminal investigators raided his Seoul home and laboratory.