Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist impulses. It's still more stable than was expected.
The country is looking for an innovative development paradigm. A Confucian culture that emphasizes respect for ancestors as well as gendered family relationships continues to influence the society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend emerging.
Origins
In the early days the ancestors of modern Koreans were able to survive by hunting and gathering wild foods. Around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate millet, beans, and other crops. They also raised livestock and created furs. They created tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon papermaking block printing, art styles and written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state adopted Chinese culture which included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. In this period the inhabitants of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy where the monarch and other senior officials were from the aristocracy of the land, while the rest of the population was peasants. The state extracted taxes from the citizens and sometimes required them to join the army or participate in projects for the government like building fortifications.
At the end of the period the state of Baekje was founded by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and was the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. This new kingdom expanded into the southwest of the peninsula, and fought with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the area. Baekje took on Confucian ideas into its state belief system in 1390 CE and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety a tenet. In 에볼루션 코리아 of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families, and had to be revered and obeyed by all people, even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, who would rule from 918 to 1392 CE established the Hangul alphabet built on the patterns created by the mouth during pronunciation. 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. 에볼루션 was during this period that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times. Early evidence of human settlements are visible in the form of stone-lined cist graves with precious items like amazonite jewellery being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, known as dolmens and built of single large stones, are common in the country.
In the first part of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognizable political state. The peninsula was later under the control of a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) which included Baekje and Goguryeo. In addition, the northern region of the peninsula was ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which most historians don't consider to be a valid Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Of similar site , Baekje was the most powerful state however, its dynasty ended with the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE leaving the southern provinces of Manchuria and the western region surrounding the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy prospered for a period of time.
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 unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters the post-crisis era the development paradigm of the country appears to be changing. Those who are horrified by the cost of the old systems are in favor of a comprehensive plan for liberalization of labor, capital and product markets. On the other hand those who support the old system seek to preserve it by leveraging nationalist sentiments and generating fear about job losses.
Analysts and academics are divided over the extent to which Korea's development is influenced by these two trends. This article examines the latest developments by analyzing five phases of Korea's political evolution that include democratic illiberalism (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) and authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and democratic participation (2002 to the present). This article also identifies some important factors that appear to influence these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their views among this population. A survey in 2009 found that nearly one third of respondents do not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% stated that there was no 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 similar to that of the United States where a similar percentage of people do not believe that humans evolved from lesser advanced species of life.
In the past, most of the anti-evolutionist movement in Korea was focused on educating college students and leading them to Christ. A significant increase in interest in creation science came in the year 1980, when there was an all-day seminar that was held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the keynote speakers. This event attracted a large number of church leaders and scientists.
The event's success led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st in 1980. The event was widely covered in the national media, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In CREATION, the organization published its own activities and published articles on scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR and some books on the subject that were published outside of Korea. KACR members lectured throughout the country in churches and universities.
A KACR success was witnessed at KAIST University in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were keen on the concept of creationism that they raised funds and received support to build an enlightened museum on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, that covers topics related to creation science. It has also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also organized local branches that hold seminars and provide talks to school children and community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and into the early the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts, and other fashion elements from abroad. Similarly, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by contemporary jazz and rock and roll. In this time, the famous samulnori or dance-dramas with masks were extremely popular. These dramatic pieces were performed with the accompaniment of shaman drums and different musical instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being formed in the wake of the economic crisis. The new regime's main challenge is the balance between state-led economic policies as well as market-oriented ones. It also involves altering incentives, monitoring, or discipline schemes that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are covered in Chapters 3 & 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo Prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo, was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other regions as well as migrant workers from northern China. Baekje, an important regional power in the early 4th Century expanded its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. In the process, it entered into frequent battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders along the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the development of powerful local factions. Gungye an eminent noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. He also was in control of a portion of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
However, his rule was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and unified Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla, later incorporated Baekje into Goryeo and acted as a peaceful successor. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized ruling system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From that point, the Korean peninsula was under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually grew to become powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.