Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is susceptible to populist tendencies. It is still healthier than expected.
The country is looking for an innovative development paradigm. A Confucian culture that values respect for 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 today's Koreans were capable of surviving by hunting and gathering wild food. About 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet and beans as well as other crops. They also raised livestock and made furs. These people formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metallurgy, which produced bronze and later iron tools. They traded with other nations and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan and also art styles as well as a written language and paper making.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this period the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. 에볼루션바카라 had a hierarchical structure with a monarch and high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the rest of the population were peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens and sometimes even forced them to serve in the army or build fortifications.
Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo, founded the state of Baekje at the end of the period. The new kingdom grew into the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the region. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas into its state belief system in 1390 CE, and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety a tenet. In the name of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families, and had to be respected and obeyed by everyone, even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who would rule from 918 to 1392 CE introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth when it was pronounced. This significantly improved communication between people, and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and movable type were also refined. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times. Early evidence of human settlements are evident in the form of graves lined with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures known 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 later 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 true Korean state.
After 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 territories in Manchuria, and its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo, and 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 aid, conquered the other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea is entering a post-crisis period its development model appears to be changing. People who are shocked by the huge cost of the old system would prefer a thorough program of liberalization of capital as well as labor and product markets. On the other hand the supporters of the old system seek to preserve it through nationalist sentiments, and by inflating fears about potential job losses.
Analysts and academics are divided on the extent to which Korea's evolution is being driven by these two trends. This article examines the latest developments by analyzing five phases of Korea's political development including the illiberal democratic period (1945-60) democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) and authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and democratic participation (2002 to present). This article also identifies key factors that appear to be driving these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made progress in promoting their views to this group. A survey in 2009 revealed that almost one third of respondents do not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there was not enough evidence from science to support the theory 39% of respondents said that the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs and 17% claimed it was difficult to grasp. This level of doubt is similar to that of the United States, where a similar number of people do not accept that humans evolved from less advanced types of life.
In the past, the anti-evolutionist campaign in Korea was primarily focused on educating students and the introduction of Christ to them. An 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 main speakers. This event attracted a huge number of church leaders and scientists.
The success of this event resulted in the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31, 1981. The event was widely covered in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter called CREATION, which published its activities and published articles about scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR and also some books on the subject that were already in print outside of Korea. KACR members delivered lectures in churches and universities throughout the country.
One instance of an KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were interested in creationism, they raised funds and received support to build a small creationist museum on campus.
In try this to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION which covers topics in the field of creation science. It has also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established a network of local branch offices that offer seminars and talks to schoolchildren and community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the late nineteenth century and the early 20th century, Korea began to adopt an increasingly Westernized lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts, as well as 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, were loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed with the accompaniment of shaman drums as well as different musical instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being developed in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is to find an equilibrium between state-led and market-oriented economic policies. It also involves rethinking the incentives monitoring and discipline strategies that have shaped the pre-crisis system. These issues are addressed 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 people living along the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas and migrants from northern China. Baekje was a major 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 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 and held control over a portion of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He was an adversary to Goguryeo.
His rule was however short-lived. After Gungye was defeated 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 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 became powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.