Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. It is still healthier than expected.
The country is seeking an entirely new model of development. A Confucian culture that emphasizes respect for ancestors and gendered family relations continues influence the way we live. There are signs that a secularist culture is beginning to emerge.
Origins
In prehistoric times the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. Then around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock and produced furs. They established tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also created an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools and bronze. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon papermaking block printing, art styles and writing to Japan.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon came into existence on the southern part of the peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. In this period the people of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure with a monarch and senior officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy while the rest of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens and sometimes even forced them to serve in the army or build fortifications.
By the end of the 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. This new kingdom expanded into the southwest of the peninsula, and fought against the Goguryeo commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje incorporated aspects of Confucian beliefs into its official beliefs and made the male centered filiopiety concept an official doctrine in 1390 CE. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families, and had to be obeyed and respected by all, including their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who ruled from 918 to 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved the communication between people and led to an explosion in the writing of Buddhist texts. In addition, movable metal type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was refined. In 1145 CE, the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was first recorded.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence of human settlements are visible in the form of stone-lined cist graves with precious goods like amazonite jewellery being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, made of enormous single stones, are also widespread throughout the country.
In the first second half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognisable political state. The peninsula was ruled by several states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCfrom 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo and Silla. The northern portion of the peninsula was occupied for a period by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not believe to be a true Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states arose in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). In 에볼루션바카라 of them, Baekje was the most powerful state but its dynasty dissolved with the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE and left the southern provinces of Manchuria and the western region surrounding the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy flourished for a short time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to collaborate in order 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 the development paradigm of the country is in flux. Those who are horrified by the huge cost of the old systems support a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand, people who support the old system seek to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, as well as by inflating fears about potential job losses.
Academic and policy analysts remain sharply divided on the extent to which these two trends are driving Koreas shift towards an economic model that is radically different from the one of governance. This article examines the five phases of Korea's development 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 some key factors that seem to influence these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their views among this population. A survey from 2009 showed that nearly one-third of respondents were against evolution. Of the respondents, 41% stated that there wasn't enough scientific evidence to support evolution; 39% said the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs and 17% claimed 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 earlier types of life.
In the past, the majority of the anti-evolution movements in Korea was focused on teaching college students and bringing them to Christ. A significant increase in the interest in creation science occurred in the year 1980, when there was a four-day seminar held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the keynote speakers. This event was attended by an audience of scientists, professors, and church leaders.
The success of this event resulted in the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The inaugural meeting was widely covered in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also attracted a lot of attention.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, which reported on its activities and also published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated several films and slides from ICR and several books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures in churches and universities throughout the country.
One instance of one KACR success story was at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were so interested in creationism, they raised money and secured support to build a small creationist museum on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION which covers topics in creation science. It has also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also created an organization of local branch offices that host talks and seminars to schoolchildren and community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the late 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other fashion elements from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. In this period, the famous samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, became loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drums and other musical instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new model of development. The primary challenge for the new regime is to find a balance between market-oriented and state-led economic policies. It also involves altering incentives, monitoring, or disciplining schemes which have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.
The Baekje was founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established jointly by the people who lived along the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas and immigrants from northern China. Baekje was one of the major regional powers in the 4th century, expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do south. This meant that it was constantly in conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders on the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries led to the rise of powerful local factions. Gungye, a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. He also held control over a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He became a rival to Goguryeo.
However the rule of his was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla and later joined Baekje into Goryeo without a fight as his successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the centrally-run system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From then on the Korean peninsula was under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.