Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone 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 emphasizes respect for ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. But there are signs that a secularist culture is emerging.
Origins
During prehistoric times the ancestors of the modern Koreans lived by hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate crops such as millet and beans. They also raised livestock and made furs. These people formed tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also developed an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other countries and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan and also styles of art as well as a written language and papermaking.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this time the people of Buyeo were part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure that included a monarch as well as high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy while the rest of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these people, and sometimes required them to join the army or construct fortifications.
Onjo Prince Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo and the state of Baekje at the end of the time. The new kingdom grew its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commandos in the region. Baekje introduced elements of Confucian thought into its state belief system and made the male centered filiopiety concept an official doctrine in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were responsible for their families, and had to be revered and obeyed by all people, 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 greatly improved communication and led to a rise in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metallic type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was refined. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first written in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times until. Early evidence of human settlements can be found in the form of cist graves that were lined with stone, and decorated with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens and constructed of large stones in a single piece, are prevalent throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized in the first half of 1st millennium BCE. The peninsula was later under the control of a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) including Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern portion of the peninsula was for a while occupied by the Balhae Kingdom that historians do believe to be a true Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Baekje is the most powerful of these states was weakened by the fall of Goguryeo (676 CE), leaving it with only its southern regions in Manchuria and the the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo as well as the Gaya confederacy, flourished for a short period of time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territorial holdings. 무료에볼루션 with the aid of the Chinese, eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase its development model appears to be in flux. People who are shocked by the costs of the old systems are in favor of a comprehensive plan for liberalization of labor, capital and product markets. On the other hand the people who support the old system attempt to protect it by promoting nationalist sentiments and by stoking fears of job losses.
Academic and policy analysts remain starkly divided as to the extent to the extent that these two trends are driving Koreas shift towards an economic model that is radically different from the one of governance. This article examines the latest developments by analyzing five phases of Korea's political development: democratic illiberalism (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87), democratic paternalism (1987-2001), and participatory democracy (2002 to the present). This article also identifies important factors that appear to be shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have had success in promoting their views among this group. A 2009 survey revealed that nearly one third of respondents do not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there was insufficient evidence from science to support the theory 39% claimed that the theory contradicted their religion and 17% claimed it was difficult to comprehend. This level of doubt is similar to that of the United States where a similar number do not believe that humans evolved from lesser advanced types of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea focused primarily on the education of students and bringing Christ to them. An increase in interest in creation science came in the year 1980, following an all-day seminar that was held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. The event attracted an impressive crowd of scientists, professors and church leaders.
The event's success led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 in 1980. The meeting was covered extensively in the national media, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In it, the group presented its own work and published articles about scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated slides and film strips from ICR and also some books on the subject of creationism, which were published outside of Korea. KACR members delivered lectures in universities and churches across the country.
A KACR success was seen at the KAIST University in Seoul. There, enough students were interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the funds and support to construct an on-campus museum showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine called CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It has also organized local branches, which hold seminars and provide talks to schoolchildren and community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the latter part of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more 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 by modern jazz and rock and roll. During this period, the famous samulnori or masked dancing-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers and other instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new development paradigm. The biggest challenge facing the new regime is to find an equilibrium between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also involves altering incentives, monitoring, or disciplining schemes which have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 & 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 regions, as well as immigrants from northern China. In the 4th century, in the early part of, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory as far as Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. As a result, it was in frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders along the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the rise 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. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
However, his rule was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935, and then united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla and later joined Baekje into Goryeo peacefully as a successor. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central rule system. This was the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was then controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla gradually grew into powerful states on the peninsula, and in Manchuria.