"We may not conduct whaling for scientific research if there is another way to achieve the goal," said Kang Joon-suk, an official of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
South Korea unveiled its plan at an International Whaling Commission meeting last week, saying it would use the loophole in a global moratorium that permits killing of whales for "scientific" research.
Seoul cited what it called a significant increase in whale stocks in its waters and consequent damage to fisheries. If it goes ahead, it would be the fourth country to kill whales, joining Norway, Iceland and Japan.
Yonhap news agency said Seoul could be backtracking in the face of criticism at home and abroad.
Greenpeace described scientific whaling as ``just thinly disguised commercial whaling''.
Norway and Iceland openly defy the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling, saying they believe stocks are healthy.
Japan already uses the loophole for scientific research, with the meat then going on dinner plates.
Mr Kang said yesterday South Korea would fully consult international and domestic experts before and after presenting a detailed whaling programme to the IWC's scientific committee, set to meet in South Korea in May next year.
``We will respect the committee's recommendations in making our decision,'' he said.
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