Korean Confusion

Somebody get us Caitlin Upton on the phone …

The former South Carolina beauty queen – who in 2007 unearthed a global map-stealing conspiracy perpetrated by “The Iraq” – needs to help us out with our “Koreas.”

Last time we checked it was North Korea (a.k.a. the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) that was the communist country, while South Korea (a.k.a the Republic of Korea) was the democracy. Isn’t that the case?

Hmmmm …

If so, why is South Korea’s government – specifically its “Ministry of Health and Welfare” and the government-subsidized “Planned Population Federation of Korea” – spending public money on “dating parties” aimed at raising the nation’s low birthrate.

According to The New York Times, Korean companies initially led the way in this effort, although “sponsorship of the parties has shifted mainly to ministry affiliates and local governments, which can win financial rewards for activities that promote marriage and childbirth.”

Wow …

At last count there were 8.33 live births a year for every 1,000 South Koreans – ranking the peninsular nation 218th out of 223 nations surveyed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). By contrast in America there are 13.66 live births per 1,000 citizens, ranking our country 146th on the list.

We get that South Korea wants to improve its standing on this list, but government-subsidized baby-making seems like a very “North Korean” thing to do to us.