In this blog post, we’ll explore the medical possibilities that human cloning technology could bring, as well as ethical issues such as the identity of cloned humans, the dignity of life, and our attitude toward humanity, through the lens of the movie ‘Moon’.
Is cloning humans merely “science fiction” that is completely unrealistic? Currently, research on human genes and gene-editing technologies has advanced to the point of practical medical applications, and treatments using somatic cell gene editing are already being performed. However, it is important to distinguish between gene editing and reproductive cloning, which creates a new human individual. To date, there is no conclusive scientific evidence supporting the claim that a human has been cloned for reproductive purposes and brought to birth. That said, we cannot simply dismiss the issue of human cloning as something completely unrelated to us, a story of the distant future, or mere fantasy. As life science research targeting specific human body parts or genetic traits continues to advance, we must continually consider what technologies will emerge in the future and how they will be applied to humans. If technologies targeting human genes continue to advance, the debate surrounding the possibility of cloning human individuals may resurface.
If human cloning becomes possible through advanced future technologies, there will certainly be positive aspects. Advances in gene therapy and cell therapy that treat the root causes of intractable diseases or aid in the recovery of damaged tissues represent medical possibilities that many patients can look forward to. In fact, current human gene-editing technologies are already being used to treat diseases, and somatic cell gene editing is evolving into a practical medical technology in the field of genetic disease treatment. However, what would happen if we were to go beyond these technologies and become capable of extensively manipulating human genetic traits in a desired direction, or intentionally creating humans with specific abilities? It might become possible to mass-produce humans with exceptional physical or intellectual abilities—or specific talents—as if they were commodities, or to repeatedly clone individuals with outstanding abilities in a particular field. If this were to happen, the most suitable people for each field would be assigned to their respective roles, which could potentially spur dramatic global progress in economic and technological terms. However, this perspective is limited to purely economic and technological considerations. Human life is not composed solely of such rigid, technical aspects. Even if technological advancements allow us to enjoy an exceptionally high quality of life, can we truly call it a genuine human life if it lacks human warmth and dignity? From an ethical perspective, we need to consider whether technologies that clone humans or artificially alter human genetic traits truly benefit humanity. In other words, we must consider whether these technologies provide benefits to humans not only materially but also spiritually, and whether they might, in fact, gradually lead humanity toward destruction. Due to these concerns, strong international ethical and regulatory oversight is required for human genome editing, and the World Health Organization has also stated that hastily applying heritable human genome editing for reproductive purposes to clinical practice would be irresponsible at this time.
The film “Moon” tells a story about a cloned human and prompts viewers to reflect on the ethical aspects of human cloning discussed above. The protagonist, Sam, is a cloned human programmed to live for three years; at first, he lives his life unaware that he is a clone. He simply believes he will return to Earth two weeks after completing his three-year contract on the Moon. While working to transmit energy from the Moon to Earth, he longs for his wife and daughter back on Earth—though in reality, these are not Sam’s genuine memories but rather memories implanted into the clone. The family and past life that exist in Sam’s memories were merely a device designed to make him believe he was an ordinary human being. When Sam’s lifespan is nearly over, a new Sam—with the exact same appearance and memories—appears to work for another three years. The original Sam then realizes the truth about being a clone and the reality of his existence, and dies in agony.
The film ends with the new Sam escaping aboard an energy transport ship bound for Earth to put an end to this cycle that repeats every three years. While the film does not directly show all the consequences that follow, it at least implies—from Sam’s perspective—the possibility that clones like him will continue to be created and repeat the same fate.
In this film, the protagonist Sam feels deeply lonely as he thinks of his family. Since the film is set on the Moon, the quiet lunar landscape—where the protagonist lives alone—further emphasizes his loneliness. However, the people living on Earth have absolutely no interest in Sam’s loneliness. They are solely concerned with deceiving Sam convincingly to obtain the energy they need to survive. Sam’s only friend—and the only one who comforts him—is not a person, but a computer named GERTY. Although GERTY appears to be a completely emotionless machine in the early part of the film, she comforts Sam when he is suffering after learning that he is a replicant, and even sacrifices herself to help him return to Earth. The scene where GERTY—a machine that is supposedly emotionless and cold—offers human-like compassion to Sam, a replicant who has been rejected even by humans, perfectly illustrates the potential problems that could arise if replicants become more common in the future. These issues lie precisely in the ethical confusion replicants will face regarding their own identity and in the attitudes other humans will hold toward them.
Replicants are not emotionless robots; they possess rich emotions just like any other human. Even though they are replicants, they live with memories of their past—just as in the movie—and therefore believe themselves to be ordinary humans. But how would they feel the moment they realize they are not ordinary humans, but artificially created clones? The psychological shock would be immense when they learn that they were not born naturally, but were created in the image of another human for the purposes of specific individuals. As depicted in the film, some people may not consider clones to be living beings, and clones would face social alienation. While such people might view clones as mere machines created for human convenience, the clones themselves will see themselves not as machines but as human beings. Unlike machines, clones possess thoughts and emotions just like humans; consequently, as their inherent human values clash with society’s perception of them, their sense of identity and self-worth will be completely shaken. If cloned humans become widespread in the human world, as depicted in the movie, chaos could ensue throughout human society. However, these emotional aspects are not the only problems of the era of cloned humans. Cloned humans can also be viewed as living beings, yet in the movie, they are discarded every three years when their lifespans end. If human cloning becomes commonplace in the future, we must consider the possibility that countless lives could be treated in this manner. This violates the dignity of life and is a highly unethical act.
As such, if cloned humans become widespread, many ethical problems will arise. Since everyone desires to extend their lifespan and live healthier lives, research on genetics and life sciences will continue in the future. Furthermore, technologies for preventing and treating human diseases, such as gene editing and cell therapy, will also continue to advance. However, the advancement of these technologies cannot be equated with human reproductive cloning; stricter ethical standards are required, particularly when it comes to creating a new human being through cloning. Currently, in South Korea, under the Act on Bioethics and Safety, it is prohibited to implant somatic cell-cloned embryos into the uterus of a human or animal, or to maintain such an implanted embryo until birth. Furthermore, the law stipulates that somatic cell nuclear transfer may only be conducted within the scope defined by law, such as for research aimed at treating rare or intractable diseases. Therefore, human cloning cannot be considered to be completely unrestricted by law, and the feasibility of human cloning itself has not yet been scientifically proven. While human efforts cannot completely halt the advancement of science and technology, not all technological progress necessarily yields beneficial results for humanity.
Research on human genes and life can naturally progress, but it must not go so far as to become research that disregards or threatens life. Science and technology must develop not only to make human life more convenient but also to protect human dignity and the value of life. The film ‘Moon’ serves as a warning to people today regarding precisely this point.
