Evolution Korea
The democratic system in South Korea is susceptible to populist impulses. It's still better than expected.
The country is searching for a new way of developing. A Confucian culture that values respect for ancestors and gendered family relations continues influence society. There are indications of a secularist cultural trend emerging.
Origins
In prehistoric times the ancestors of modern Koreans were capable of survival through hunting and gathering wild foods. Then around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops like millet and beans. They also raised livestock and produced furs. They created tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also developed a metalworking industry, producing bronze tools, and later iron ones. They traded with other nations and introduced block printing to Japan along with styles of art as well as a written language and papermaking.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. In this period, the people of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical state where the monarch and senior officials came from the aristocracy of the land, while the majority of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these people and sometimes even forced them to serve in the army or construct fortifications.
Onjo the prince of Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong the founder of Goguryeo and the state of Baekje towards the end of the period. The new kingdom expanded to the southwest part of the peninsula, and fought against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the region. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas into its state belief system in 1390 CE and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety a tenet. Under the cover of filiopiety fathers were responsible to their families. They must be obedient to everyone and respected even by their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, which would rule from 918 until 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth during pronunciation. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also improved. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. Early evidence of human settlements are evident in the form graves lined with stones, with precious items such as amazonite jewellery being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, constructed from huge single stones, are also common throughout the country.
In the first second half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. The peninsula was then ruled by a number of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) including Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern part of the peninsula was occupied for a time by the Balhae Kingdom which historians do not believe to be a real Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, also known as the Several States Period. In all of them, Baekje was the most powerful state, but its dynasty ended with the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE, leaving it with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy thrived for some time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to work together in order 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. Those who are appalled by the huge cost of the old system are urging the need for a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital as well as labor and product markets. On the other hand the supporters of the old system try to preserve it through nationalist sentiments, and 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 development towards an economic model that is radically different from the one of governance. 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% of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their views among this population. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost one-third of respondents were against evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there was insufficient evidence from science to support the theory; 39% said the theory contradicted their religion; and 17% said it was difficult to comprehend. This level of doubt is comparable to that of the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from earlier types of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea was focused on educating 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. 에볼루션 룰렛 and Duane Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. This event attracted a large number of church leaders and scientists.
The success of the event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 in 1980. The inaugural meeting was widely reported in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and attracted a lot of attention.
KACR started publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In it, the group presented its own work and published articles on the scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR and also several books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures across the nation in universities and churches.
A KACR success was witnessed at KAIST University in Seoul. There, students were so interested in creationism that they raised the funds and support to construct a small museum on campus 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 the field of creation science. It has also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branches, which hold seminars and give talks to children in schools and community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and into the early 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced by miniskirts, as well as other foreign fashion elements. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by contemporary rock and roll and jazz. At 에볼루션 룰렛 or masked dance-dramas, were loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers and other instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new model of development. The primary challenge facing the new regime is the balance between state-led economic policies and market-oriented ones. It also requires altering incentives, monitoring, or disciplining schemes which have been a part of the system prior the crisis. These issues are examined in Chapters 3 and 4.
Established 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 areas and immigrants from northern China. Baekje, a major regional power in the early 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 commanderies on the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the development of powerful local factions. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He ruled a portion of today's Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Later, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
However his rule was not long-lasting. After his defeat, Gungye was replaced by a powerful local leader, Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935, Later Baekje was incorporated peacefully into Goryeo as a successor state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the centralized ruling system. This marked the closing of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point 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.