Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. Nonetheless, it is healthier than what one might expect.
The country is looking for a new way of developing. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for the ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to influence the society. However, there are signs that a secularist culture is emerging.
Origins
During prehistoric times the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock, and even made furs. They also established tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry for metalworking, which produced bronze tools and later iron ones. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon, paper making block printing, art styles and writing to Japan.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was founded in the southern region of the peninsula. This state adopted Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this period the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy with the monarch and top officials were members of the aristocracy of the land, while the rest of its population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to serve in the army or to build fortifications.
Onjo the prince of Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo and the state of Baekje at the close of the period. The new kingdom expanded its territory to the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war with Goguryeo and China's commandos in the region. Baekje incorporated aspects of Confucian thought into its state beliefs and made the male centered filiopiety concept an official doctrine in 1390 CE. Under the guise filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They must be obeyed by all and respected even by their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a nation that ruled from 918 until 1392 CE, gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the shapes created by the mouth while pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metal type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was improved. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was recorded for the first time.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of graves lined with stones, with precious objects such as amazonite jewellery being buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, constructed from enormous single stones, are widespread throughout the country.
In the first half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognizable political state. After that the peninsula was ruled by a variety of states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCbetween 635 and 57 BC CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Additionally, the northern part of the peninsula was ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which many historians don't consider to be a valid Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Baekje was the most powerful of these states was diminished by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE) leaving only its southern territories 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 collaborate to expand their territories. Silla with the help of the Chinese, eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea is entering a post-crisis period, its development paradigm seems to be changing. 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 seek to protect it by promoting nationalist sentiments, as well as by exaggerating fears about possible job loss.
Policy and academic analysts are in a tense debate about the extent to which these two developments are driving Koreas evolution towards an economic model that is radically different from the one of governance. This article focuses on the five phases of Korea's development in terms of its political development: democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also highlights important factors that appear to influence these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their views to this group. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost one-third of respondents were against evolution. Of those who voted, 41% stated that there was no scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% believed it was contrary to their religious beliefs, and 17 percent said they did not understand it. This level of doubt is similar to that of the United States, where a similar percentage of people do not believe that humans evolved from earlier forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea focused primarily on the education of 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 Giss of ICR were the main speakers. This event attracted a huge number of church leaders and scientists.
The success of this event resulted in the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31 1981. The meeting was covered extensively in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In it, the group published its own activities and published articles on the scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR as well as some books on the subject of creationism, which were already published outside of Korea. KACR members lectured throughout the country at universities and churches.
One example of a KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were keen on the concept of creationism that 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 the field of creation science. It has also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established a network of local branch offices that host talks and seminars to schoolchildren and community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter part of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt an increasingly Westernized lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts and other style elements imported from abroad. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern rock and roll and jazz. In this period, the famous samulnori, or masked dance dramas, were popular with the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers and other musical instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new model of development. The primary challenge for the new regime is to strike an equilibrium between market-oriented and state-led economic policies. It also involves changing the incentives monitoring and discipline strategies that have created the pre-crisis system. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 & 4.
무료에볼루션 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 regions, as well as people 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. As a result, it was in frequent confrontation with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies across the border.
The fall of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries enabled powerful local factions to rise. Gungye an eminent noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. It also was in control of a portion of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
His rule was however short-lived. After Gungye's defeat, he was overthrown by an influential local leader, Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935. Later Baekje was peacefully incorporated into Goryeo as an heir state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centralized ruling system. This marked the closing of the Three Kingdoms period. From then on the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.