Evolution Korea
In the debate over evolution, Korean scientists aren't taking their chances. The Society for Textbook Revise has been fighting to get rid of Archaeopteryx, horses and other symbols of evolution from textbooks.
Confucian traditions, with their emphasis on global success and the value of learning, still dominate the culture of the country. However, Korea is looking for the new model of development.
Origins
The growth of Iron Age cultures brought more sophisticated states to the Korean Peninsula, like Goguryeo and Baekje. They all developed a unique cultural style that blended with the influence from their powerful neighbours. They also adopted elements of Chinese culture, including Confucianism, Buddhism and shamanism.
Goguryeo the first of the Korean kingdoms was the first kingdom to establish their own form of government. It consolidated its authority in the 1st century and established a king-centered rule system in the 2nd century. It expanded its territory into Manchuria and the northern part of the Peninsula by several wars that drove Han loyalists from the region.
At this time there was a regional confederation known as Buyeo was established. In the Samguk yusa of the 13th century, Wang Geon's name was recorded as king. Buyeo became known as Goryeo and that is how the name Korea came to be. Goryeo had a strong commercial economy and was also a center for learning. Its inhabitants cultivated crops and raised livestock, such as sheep and goats. They also created furs out of them too. They performed masked dance dramas such as tallori and sandaenori. They also held an annual festival in December, which was called Yeonggo.
The economy of Goryeo was boosted by the booming trade with other nations which included the Song Dynasty of China. Traders from Central Asia, Arabia, Southeast Asia and Japan came to Byeongnando, the gateway to the capital city of Gaeseong. The items they brought were medicinal herbs and silk.
Around 8,000 BCE, the Koreans started to establish permanent settlements and began cultivating cereal crops. They also invented pottery and polished stone tools and started organising themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age lasted until the 12th century BC. At this time Gija, a prince of the Shang dynasty of China, purportedly introduced a higher culture to Korea. Up until the 20th century, a lot of Koreans believed that Dangun and Gija gave Korea its people and their basic culture as well as their culture.
Functions
Korea's previous development model that emphasized the importance of capital accumulation by the state and government intervention in industry and business, contributed to rapid economic growth that catapulted it from one of the world's poorest nations to the ranks of OECD countries in just three decades. However, this model was filled with moral hazard and corruption that was outright which made it not sustainable in a global environment of trade liberalization, liberalization and democratic change.
The current crisis has exposed the weakness of the existing model and it is likely that a new model will be developed to replace it. The chapters 3 and 4 look at the genesis of Korea's state and business risk partnership and demonstrate how the emergence economic actors who had an interest in preserving this system hindered Korea from making fundamental changes. By focusing on corporate governance and allocation of financial resources, these chapters provide an in-depth analysis of the causes of the crisis, and point to the best ways to move forward through reforms.
Chapter 5 explores the possible paths of Korea's development paradigm evolution in the post-crisis time frame, examining both legacies inherited from the past and new trends triggered by the IT revolution and globalization. It also examines how these changes will impact Korea's political and social structures.
The major finding is that there are several emerging trends that are altering the nature of power and will determine the future of the country. For example, despite the fact that participation in politics is still highly restricted in Korea new forms of political activism bypass and challenge the power of political parties, thus transforming the democratic system in the country.
Another important point is that the power and influence of the Korean elite has decreased. A large portion of the society feels disconnected from the ruling class. This is a sign of the need for greater civic education and participation and new models of power-sharing. The chapter concludes with the statement that the success of Korea's new model of development will be determined by how well these trends can be incorporated and the willingness of people to make difficult decisions.
Benefits
South Korea has the ninth largest economy in the world and the sixth fastest-growing. It has a growing middle class and an extensive R&D infrastructure which drives innovation. In addition the government has recently increased investment in infrastructure projects to aid economic growth and promote social equity.
In 2008 the Lee Myung-bak administration released five leading indicators in an attempt to establish a new development system with the emphasis on changes and practicality. The administration made efforts to streamline the government organization, privatize public corporations equipped with more efficiency, and to overhaul administrative regulations.
Since the end of the Cold War, South Korea has been pursuing a strategy of economic integration with the rest of the region and beyond. page of high-tech consumer electronics as well as advanced manufacturing techniques have become an important source of income. In addition the government has been encouraging the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement) initiative, transforming the country from an agricultural society to one focused on manufacturing.
The country enjoys a high quality of life and offers many benefits to employees including maternity leave and job stability. Employers are also required to sign up for accident insurance, which covers the cost of work-related illnesses and injuries. It is also a common practice for businesses to offer private medical insurance to cover ailments that are that are not covered by National Health Insurance.
As a result, South Korea has been seen as a model of prosperity for many emerging nations around the globe. The global financial crisis of 1997 which swept through Asia, challenged this view. The crisis shattered the myths about Asia's miracle economies, and led to a fundamentally reappraisal on the role of governments in managing risky private activities.
It seems that Korea's fate is still uncertain in the aftermath of these changes. A new generation of leaders have embraced the image as a "strong leader" and begun to experiment in market-oriented policies. On the contrary, a strong domestic power base has made it difficult to implement radical change.
Advantages
The reemergence of the creationists is a major obstacle to Korean science's efforts in educating citizens about evolution. The majority of Koreans are in favor of teaching students about evolution, but a small group headed by Bun-Sam Lim (the director of the Society for Textbook Revise, STR) is advocating for the removal of it from textbooks. STR claims that teaching evolution encourages an "materialist atheism" and reflects an "unhopeful worldview" for students. This could cause students to lose faith in humanity.
The causes of anti-evolutionist sentiments are complex and diverse. Some researchers suggest that it is due to religious belief, while others point to an increasing prevalence of anti-intellectualism, which has been exacerbated by growing political elite fragmentation along ideologies, regions, class, and gender. The one-sided populism that is backed by powerful conservative think organizations, business interests and other influential groups, has also contributed to the public's distrust of the scientific community.
In the final analysis the study's findings regarding numerous vulnerabilities point to the need for targeted interventions to mitigate them in advance. As Seoul continues to pursue its ambition of becoming a more cohesive urban landscape, these insights can be used to inspire a unified push for greater inclusivity in its policies.
In the COVID-19 case, identifying vulnerable neighborhoods and their occupants is essential for the development of specific, compassionate policies to improve their lives and safety. For instance, the extreme impact of the disease on Jjokbangs is a reflection of the socioeconomic disparities that can compound vulnerability to natural and manmade disasters.
To overcome this, South Korea requires a more inclusive and diverse civil society that can bring together all communities to address the most pressing problems of the city. This requires a fundamental shift in the structure of institutional politics, starting with the power of the presidency. The Blue House can mobilize a large bureaucracy and utilize the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, and the intelligence bureau to exert political influence. These agencies aren't subject to oversight by parliamentary bodies or independent inspection agents. This gives the president a huge leverage to impose his or her own vision on the rest of the country. This can lead to political polarization that can result in stagnation and polarization throughout the country.