Evolution Korea
The democratic system in South Korea is vulnerable to populist impulses. Nonetheless, it is healthier than might be expected.
The country is searching for an innovative development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for ancestors and as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. But there are signs that a secularist culture is gaining ground.
Origins
In the early days the ancestors of today's Koreans were able to survive by hunting and gathering wild food. In the tens of thousands of years after, they began to grow crops such as millet and beans. They also raised livestock, and made furs. These people formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metallurgy business, making iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon paper making, block printing art styles, and writing to Japan.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. In this period the people of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy with the monarch and top officials were members of the aristocracy of the land, whereas the majority of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from the citizens and sometimes required them to fight in the army or take part in projects of the government, like building fortifications.
At the end of this period the state of Baekje was founded by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and was the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. The new kingdom grew into the southwest part of the peninsula, and was at war with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the region. Baekje included elements of Confucian thought into its state belief system and made the male-centric filiopiety concept as a law in 1390 CE. Under the guise filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They had to be obedient to everyone and admired by even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a country which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE, gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based on the shapes created by the mouth when it pronounces. This dramatically improved the 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 improved. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence for human settlements is evident in the form stone-lined cist graves with precious objects such as amazonite jewellery being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, and made of single large stones, are prevalent throughout the country.
In the first second half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognizable political state. After that, the peninsula was ruled by several states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla. The northern region of the peninsula was for a while occupied by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not believe to be a true Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Of them, Baekje was the most powerful state but its dynasty dissolved when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE leaving Baekje with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region surrounding 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 began to collaborate to expand their territories. Silla with the aid of the Chinese eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters the post-crisis period the development paradigm of the country appears to be in flux. The people who are awed by the cost of the old systems are in favor of a comprehensive plan for liberalization of labor, capital and markets for products. On the other hand champions of the old system seek to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and generating fear about job losses.
Analysts and academics are divided over the extent to which Korea's growth is influenced by these two trends. This article examines the five phases of Korea's evolution in terms of its political development including democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60) democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also identifies key elements that are the driving force behind these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made significant progress in promoting their views to this group. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost one third of respondents do not believe in the theory of evolution. Of the respondents, 41% stated that there was insufficient evidence from science to support the theory 39% of respondents said that the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs; and 17% said it was difficult to grasp. This level of disbelief is comparable to that of the United States where a similar number do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced species of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea was primarily focused on the education of students and in bringing Christ to them. In 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 keynote speakers. This event was attended by an impressive crowd of professors, scientists, and church leaders.
The event's success resulted in the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st in 1980. The event was widely covered in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In CREATION, the organization reported on its own activities and published articles about scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated film strips and slides from ICR as well as a few books on creationism that were already published outside of Korea. KACR members lectured throughout the country in churches and universities.
One example of one KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were so fascinated by creationism that they raised money and got support to build a small creationist museum on campus.
In 에볼루션 사이트 to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, which covers topics in the field of creation science. It has also sponsored a series of talks by ICR staff. It has also established local branches that hold seminars and provide talks to schoolchildren and community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements imported from overseas. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. At this time, the famous samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, were popular with the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers as well as other musical instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new model of development. The main challenge for the new regime is to strike an equilibrium between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also involves changing the incentives and monitoring schemes that have shaped the system before the crisis. These issues are discussed 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 migrants from northern China. Baekje, an important regional power in the early 4th Century expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do south. Consequently, it came into frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies across the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries led to the development of powerful local factions. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He was the ruler of a large portion of the present-day Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Later, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
However, his rule was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla Later, he incorporated Baekje into Goryeo and acted as a peaceful successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centralized ruling system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point, the Korean peninsula was controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually grew to become powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.