Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is susceptible to populist impulses. However, it's healthier than one would expect.
The country is in search of a new development paradigm. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for the ancestors and gendered family relationships continues to influence society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend emerging.
Origins
In the early days the ancestors of modern Koreans were able to survive by hunting and gathering wild foods. Around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate millet, beans and other crops. They also raised livestock and created furs. These people formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon papermaking block printing art styles, and written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. In this time, the inhabitants of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical where the monarch and senior officials were from the aristocracy of the land, whereas the majority of the population were peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens and sometimes even forced them to join the army or construct fortifications.
At the end of the period the state of Baekje was established by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. This new kingdom expanded into the southwest part of the peninsula, and clashed with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the region. weblink accepted Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families and they must be revered and obeyed by all, including their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who would rule from 918 to 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth during pronunciation. This dramatically improved communication between people, and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. In addition, movable metal type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was refined. It was during this period that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements can be found in the form of cist graves paved with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry that were buried with the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, made of huge single stones, are also prevalent throughout the country.
Gojoseon became the first political state to be recognized in the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. The peninsula was then ruled by a number of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE), including Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern part of the peninsula was occupied for a period by the Balhae Kingdom which historians do not believe to be a real Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Among them, Baekje was the most powerful of them all however, its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE, leaving the southern provinces of Manchuria and the western region around the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy prospered for a period of time.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms started to cooperate to expand their territories. In the end, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated the other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase its development model appears to be changing. The people who are awed by the cost of the old systems advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand, champions of the old system seek to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and exaggerating fears of job loss.
Policy and academic analysts are starkly divided as to the extent to the extent that these two developments are driving Koreas development towards an entirely new model of economic governance. This article reviews developments to date by analyzing five phases of Korea's political development: democratic illiberalism (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87), democratic paternalism (1987-2001), and participatory democracy (2002 to the present). This article also highlights the most important factors that are the driving force behind these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have had success in promoting their views to this group. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that nearly three-quarters of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those, 41% said that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% claimed that it did not align with their religious beliefs. 17 percent said they did not understand it. This level of disbelief is comparable to that in the United States, where a majority of people do not accept that humans evolved from earlier types of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on teaching students and the introduction of Christ to them. In 1980 the year 1980, a four-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the main speakers. The event was attended by a large number of pastors, professors, church leaders and scientists.
The success of this event resulted in the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The inauguration meeting was widely covered in national newspapers, such as The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also attracted a lot of attention.
KACR began publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the organization reported on its own activities and published articles on scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated several films and slides from ICR, as well as some books on the subject that were published outside of Korea. KACR members delivered lectures at universities and churches throughout the country.
One example of an KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were interested in creationism, they raised money and got funding to construct a small creationist museum on campus.
In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine called CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics that pertain to the science of creation. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It has also established branches in local offices that offer seminars and talks to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the late 19th century and into the early 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. During this period, the famous samulnori or the masked dance-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums as well as various musical instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new development paradigm. The primary challenge facing the new regime is to find the right balance between the state-led economic policies and market-oriented ones. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring or disciplining schemes which have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are covered in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo the prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo, was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo, and other areas as well as migrant workers from northern China. In the 4th century, in the early part of, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. In the process, it entered into frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders across the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries allowed powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye, a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital and exerted control over part of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He became an adversary to Goguryeo.
However his rule was not long-lasting. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935, and then united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla Later, he incorporated Baekje into Goryeo peacefully as a successor. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central rule system. This marked the end to the Three Kingdoms Period. From then on the Korean peninsula was controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.