Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. Nonetheless, it is healthier than might be expected.
The country is seeking a new paradigm of development. A Confucian culture that values respect for the ancestors and gendered family relations continues influence society. However, there are signs that a secularist culture is emerging.
Origins
In prehistoric times the ancestors of the modern Koreans were capable of survival through hunting and gathering wild foods. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans and other crops. They also raised livestock, and made furs. These tribes formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metallurgy industry, producing iron tools and bronze. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon, paper making, block printing art styles, as well as a written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this time, the people of Buyeo were part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy where the monarch and other senior officials were members of the aristocracy of the land, whereas the rest of its population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens and sometimes even required them to join the army or build fortifications.
Onjo Prince Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo established the state of Baekje at the close of the time. click the following article expanded its territory into the southwest of the peninsula and fought with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the region. Baekje adopted Confucian ideas into its state belief system in 1390 CE, and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families and they must be obeyed and respected by all people, even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, which would rule from 918 until 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet built on the patterns created by the mouth during pronunciation. This greatly improved communication and led to a rise in the writing of Buddhist text. 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 recorded for the first time.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of cist graves paved with stone, with precious items such as amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, made of huge single stones, are also common throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized during the first half of 1st millennium BCE. The peninsula was later ruled by a number of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE), including Baekje and Goguryeo. Moreover, the northern region of the peninsula was ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which the majority of historians don't consider to be a valid Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states arose in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje, the most powerful of these states, was weakened by the collapse of Goguryeo (676 CE) leaving only its southern regions in Manchuria, and the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo as well as the Gaya confederacy, prospered for a while.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territory. Silla with the aid of the Chinese eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.
As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase its development model appears to be in flux. People who are shocked by the enormous cost of the old system are urging the need for a comprehensive program of liberalization in capital as well as labor markets. On the other hand, champions of the old system seek to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and inflating fears over potential job losses.
Academics and analysts are divided over the extent to which Korea's growth is being driven by these two trends. This article examines the latest developments by analyzing five phases of the country's political evolution that include the illiberal democratic period (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001), and participatory democracy (2002 to the present). This article also identifies key factors that are driving these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made progress in promoting their beliefs to this group. A survey from 2009 showed that almost one-third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of the respondents, 41% believed that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% claimed that it did not align with their religious beliefs, and 17% said they did not understand it. This level of disbelief is comparable to that of the United States, where a majority of people do not believe that humans evolved from earlier forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea focused primarily on educating students and bringing 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 Giss of ICR were the main speakers. This event attracted a huge number of pastors, professors, church leaders and scientists.
The success of this event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st 1981. The meeting was covered extensively in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, in which it covered its activities and published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated a number of film strips and slides from ICR and also some books on the subject of creationism, which were published outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures at universities and churches throughout the country.
One instance of an KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, students were so interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the funds and support to put up an on-campus museum featuring creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics in the field of creation science. It also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has local branches, which hold seminars and provide talks to school children and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and into the early 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts and other style elements imported from overseas. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. In the period of this transition, 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 model of development. The primary challenge for the new regime is to find a balance between state-led and market-oriented economic policies. It also requires a change in the incentives monitoring and discipline schemes that have been a part of the system prior to the crisis. These issues are examined in Chapters 3 and 4.
Founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established jointly by people living along the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other regions, as well as migrants from northern China. In the early 4th century, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory as far as 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 saw powerful local factions to rise. Gungye an eminent noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. It also held control over a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
His rule was however short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935, and then united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla and later joined Baekje into Goryeo peacefully as a successor. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central government system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was later ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually grew to become powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.