Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is susceptible to populist impulses. It's still better than we had hoped for.
The country is looking for a new development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are indications of a secularist cultural trend emerging.
Origins
In the prehistoric era the ancestors of the modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. Then around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate crops such as millet and beans. They also raised livestock, and made furs. They created tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metalworking industry, producing bronze tools and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced celadon paper making, block printing art styles, and written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Chinese culture which included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this time, the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical where the monarch and senior officials were from the land aristocracy, while the majority of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these people, and sometimes forced them to serve in the army or build fortifications.
Onjo Prince 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 time. The new kingdom expanded to the southwest part of the peninsula, and was at war with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the area. Baekje took on Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under the cover of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families. They were expected to be obedient to everyone and respected even by their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, which would rule from 918 to 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also refined. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi or 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first written in 1145 CE.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. Early evidence for human settlements is evident in the form of graves lined with stone, with precious items such as amazonite jewellery being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, built from enormous single stones, are prevalent throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized during the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. After that the peninsula was ruled by various states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCbetween 635 and 57 BC CE) including Baekje Goguryeo and Silla. The northern portion of the peninsula was for a while occupied 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. Among them, Baekje was the most powerful state however, its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE and left it with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region surrounding the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy flourished for a short time.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to work together 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 enters a post-crisis phase its development model appears to be changing. The people who are affronted by the immense cost of the old system advocate the need for a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor, and product markets. On the other hand the people who support the old system seek to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, as well as by inflating fears about potential job loss.
The academic and policy analysts remain starkly divided as to the extent to which these two trends are driving Koreas development towards a new model of economic governance. This article reviews the latest developments by analyzing five phases of Korea's political evolution: illiberal democracy (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) and authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87), democratic paternalism (1987-2001), and participatory democracy (2002 to the present). This article also highlights the most important factors that appear to be the driving force behind these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their beliefs to this group. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that nearly one-third of respondents did 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 did not align with their beliefs; and 17% said it was difficult to grasp. This level of disbelief is similar to the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from lesser advanced types of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea focused primarily on the education of students and in 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 Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. This event attracted a huge number of church leaders and scientists.
The success of the event led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st, 1980. The event was widely covered in the national media, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter called CREATION, where it covered its activities and also 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 creationism that were published outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures in universities and churches across the country.
One example of one KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, there were enough students fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised the money and support to construct an on-campus museum featuring creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine called CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics that pertain to the science of creation. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also created branches in local offices that host talks and seminars 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 traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts, as well as other foreign fashion elements. Similar to the way traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern jazz and rock and roll. In this period, the famous samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, became popular with the general public. evolutionkr were performed to the beat of shaman drums and other musical instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new development paradigm. The primary challenge facing the new regime is to find the right balance between the state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also involves altering incentives, monitoring, or discipline schemes that have been a part of the system prior the crisis. These issues are covered in Chapters 3 & 4.
Founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established in the middle of the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas and migrants from northern China. Baekje, one of the major regional powers in the early 4th century expanded its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. Consequently, it came into frequent battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders along the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries allowed powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He ruled a portion of the present-day Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He became an adversary to Goguryeo.
The rule of his 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 an alternative state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the centralized ruling system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was then controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.