Korean scientists counter creationists on textbook controversy

[한겨레] Scientists' recommendation provides a chance for archaeopteryx to survive in high school textbooks

By Jeon Jong-hui, staff reporter

The Korea Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) commented on a recent controversy concerning the teaching of the theory of evolution in Korean high school science textbooks. At a September 5 press conference, the KAST said that the theory of evolution is a key scientific concept that must be taught to all students.

South Korean creationists scored a victory in May of this year when they successfully petitioned many published of science textbooks to remove references to evolution from their works.

This was a cause of serious concern for many teachers of science. KAST said, "The theory of evolution has been proved scientifically and it must be taught to all students." Dr. Lee Deuk-hwan, Chemistry professor at Sogang University, and Dr. Choi Deuk-keun, professor of earth and environmental science at Seoul National University made the presentation, emphasizing that "science and religion must remain separated."

However, the KAST recommendation that overstated conclusions should not be included in textbooks. For instance, the archaeopteryx is said to be the only species that was something in between bird and reptile; this statement is not true since it was a bird. As for the evolution of the horse, it did not develop from one ancestry but from a diverse and complex ancestral route according to the latest research.

The KAST first presented the guidelines to the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity (KOFAC), which had requested an assessment. The KOFAC will send the guidelines to the Seoul City Education Board and pertinent publications. An official from the Seoul City Education Board said that the KOFAC reviews matters that have been already discussed by the pertinent body of the city's education board and therefore, the guidelines that have been presented by KAST will likely be recognized.

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Korean scientists counter creationists on textbook controversy