Evolution Korea
The democratic system in South Korea is prone to populist tendencies. It is still healthier than expected.
The country is searching for a new paradigm of development. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors and as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are indications of a secularist cultural trend emerging.
Origins
In the prehistoric era the ancestors of the today's Koreans were capable of survival through hunting and gathering wild foods. Then around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate crops like millet and beans. They also raised livestock and made furs. They also established tribal states in succession in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools, including bronze. They also traded with other countries and introduced block printing to Japan along with styles of art and a written language and papermaking.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was founded in the southern region of the peninsula. This state adopted Chinese culture which included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. At this time the people of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy with the monarch and top officials were from the aristocracy of the land, whereas the rest of the population was peasants. 무료에볼루션 collected taxes from these citizens and sometimes even forced them to serve in the army or to build fortifications.
Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong the founder of Goguryeo and the state of Baekje at the end of the time. The new kingdom expanded its territory into the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the region. Baekje incorporated aspects of Confucian thought into its state beliefs and made the male-centric filiopiety idea an official doctrine in 1390 CE. Under the cover of filiopiety fathers were responsible to their families. They were expected to be obeyed by all and admired by even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a nation which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based on the shapes that were created by the mouth when it pronounces. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and movable type were also refined. It was during this period that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' was first written in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of cist graves that were lined with stone, and decorated with precious items such as amazonite jewelry buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens and built from single large stones are prevalent throughout the country.
In the first part of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognisable political state. After that, the peninsula was ruled by a variety of states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo and Silla. Additionally, the northern part of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which the majority of historians don't consider to be a proper Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, also known as the Several States Period. Baekje is the most powerful of these states, was diminished by the collapse of Goguryeo (676 CE) and was left with only its southern regions in Manchuria, and its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo as well as the Gaya confederacy, thrived for a short 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 all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters the post-crisis era, its development paradigm appears to be in flux. The people who are awed by the enormous costs of the old systems are in favor of a comprehensive plan for liberalization of labor, capital and product markets. On the other hand, supporters of the old system attempt to preserve it through nationalist sentiments, and by inflating fears about potential job loss.
Analysts and academics are divided on the extent to which Korea's development is being driven by these two trends. This article reviews developments to date, by looking at five phases of Korea's political development including democratic illiberalism (1945-60) democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) and 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% of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their beliefs to this population. A 2009 survey showed that nearly a third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of those, 41% said that there was no scientific evidence to support the theory 39% of respondents believed it was contrary to their religious beliefs, and 17 percent said they didn't know what it meant. This level of disbelief is similar to that of the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from lesser advanced species of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement 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 featured speakers. The event attracted a large 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 reported in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo, and it received wide attention.
KACR started publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In it, the group presented its own work and published articles about scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR and some books on the subject that were already in print outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the nation in universities and churches.
A KACR success was witnessed at KAIST University in Seoul. There, there were enough students fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised the money and support to put up an on-campus museum with creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION which covers topics in creation science. It also sponsored a series of talks by ICR staff. It has also created branches in local offices that give seminars and talks to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the late nineteenth century and the early 20th century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts and other foreign fashion elements. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. In this time, the famous samulnori or masked dancing-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed with the accompaniment of shaman drums and various types of musical instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being formed in the wake of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is the balance between state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also involves rethinking the incentives, monitoring, and disciplining policies that shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 & 4.
Founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established in the middle of the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas and immigrants from northern China. In the 4th century, in the early part of, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory as far as Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. The kingdom was in constant conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders at the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the rise of powerful local factions. Gungye was a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. It also held control over a portion of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He became an adversary to Goguryeo.
His rule was however 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. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized ruling system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was later under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla gradually grew into powerful states on the peninsula, and in Manchuria.