Evolution Korea
The democratic system in South Korea is susceptible to populist impulses. It's still more stable than was expected.
The country is seeking a new way of developing. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are indications of a secularist cultural trend forming.
Origins
In the early days, the ancestors to modern Koreans were capable of survival through hunting and gathering wild food. About 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans, and other crops. They also raised livestock and created furs. They also established tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created a metalworking industry, producing bronze tools and later iron ones. They traded with other nations and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan along with styles of art and a written language and paper making.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was founded in the southern region of the peninsula. The state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this time, the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society in which a monarch and high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy while the majority of the population were peasants. The state extracted taxes from the citizens and sometimes required them to serve in the army or work on government projects such as building fortifications.
By the end of this 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 part of the peninsula, and clashed against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje took on Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and made the male-centered concept of filiopiety a tenet. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families and had to be revered and obeyed by everyone, even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, a nation that was ruled from 918 to 1392 CE in the year 1392 CE, introduced to the world the Hangul Alphabet based on the patterns created by the mouth when pronouncing. 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' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times. Early evidence of human settlements are evident in the form stone-lined cist graves with precious goods like amazonite jewellery being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, constructed from huge single stones, are also widespread throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first state to be recognized during the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. The peninsula was later controlled by a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE), including Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern portion of the peninsula was occupied for a time by the Balhae Kingdom that historians do consider to be a genuine Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje, the most powerful of these states was diminished by the fall of Goguryeo (676 CE) and was left with only its southern regions in Manchuria, and the 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 began to work together in order to expand their territorial holdings. In the end, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated the other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters a post-crisis era its development model appears to be in flux. The people who are awed by the cost of the old system advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand champions of the old system want to preserve it by leveraging nationalist sentiments and inflating fears over potential job losses.
Analysts and academics are divided about the extent to which Korea's growth is influenced by these two trends. This article examines developments to date, by looking at five phases of Korea's political development: the illiberal democratic period (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87), democratic paternalism (1987-2001), and participatory democracy (2002 to present). This article also highlights the most important factors that are shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have had success in promoting their views to this group. A 2009 survey showed that almost one-third of respondents were against evolution. Of the respondents, 41% stated that there was not enough evidence from science to support the theory 39% claimed that the theory contradicted their religion and 17% said it was difficult to understand. 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 campaign in Korea focused primarily on the education of students and in bringing Christ to them. In 1980, a four-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. 무료에볼루션 and Duane Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. This event drew a large audience of scientists, professors, and church leaders.
The success of this event resulted in the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31, 1981. The event was extensively covered in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a news letter titled CREATION. In it, the organization published its own activities and published articles on the scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR and several books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the nation in universities and churches.
A KACR success was seen at the KAIST University in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were so interested in creationism, they raised money and got funding 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 creation science. It has also sponsored a series of talks by ICR staff. It has also organized local branches that hold seminars and provide talks to school children and other community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other fashion elements imported from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. In the period of this transition, the famous samulnori or masked dancing-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers and other instruments of music.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new development paradigm. The primary challenge facing the new regime lies in the proper balance between state-led economic policies and market-oriented ones. It also involves changing incentives, monitoring, or disciplining systems that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo the 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 was an important regional power in the 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 fall of Silla in the 8th and early 9th centuries enabled strong local factions to emerge. Gungye was a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital and was in control of a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
His rule was however short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and unified Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla and later joined Baekje into Goryeo without a fight as his successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the central government system. This was the end 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 Silla gradually grew into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.