Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist tendencies. It is still healthier than expected.
The country is searching for an innovative development paradigm. A Confucian culture that emphasizes respect for the ancestors and gendered family relations continues to influence the society. But there are signs that a secularist culture is gaining ground.
Origins
In the early days the ancestors of today's Koreans were capable of surviving by 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 established tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metalworking, making bronze tools, and later iron ones. They also traded with other countries and introduced block printing to Japan and also styles of art and a written language and papermaking.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. In this period the inhabitants of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical where the monarch and other senior officials were members of the land aristocracy, while the rest of its population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these people, and sometimes forced them to serve in 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 towards the end of the time. This new kingdom expanded its territory into the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the area. Baekje adopted Confucian ideas into its state belief system in 1390 CE and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety a tenet. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were responsible to their families. They had to be obeyed by all and respected even by their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, a country that ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet, based on the shapes that were created by the mouth when pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to a rise in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metal type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was improved. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was first recorded.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times to. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of cist graves paved with stones, and adorned with precious items such as amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, made of massive single stones, are also widespread throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized in the first half of 1st millennium BCE. After that, the peninsula was ruled by a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCbetween 635 and 57 BC CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, 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 true Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, also known as the Several States Period. Baekje is the most powerful of these states was weakened by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE) leaving only its southern regions in Manchuria, and its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy, flourished for a while.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to collaborate to expand their territories. In the final phase, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated all other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters the post-crisis era its development model appears to be changing. Those who are appalled by the enormous cost of the old system would prefer an extensive program of liberalization in capital as well as labor markets. On the other hand, those who support the old system seek to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and generating fear of job loss.
Academics and analysts are divided over the extent to which Korea's development is being driven by these two trends. This article analyzes the five phases of Korea's evolution in terms of its political development: democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60) democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). 에볼루션게이밍 identifies key elements that are driving these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made progress in promoting their views to this group. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost one third of respondents do not believe in evolution. Of the respondents, 41% believed there was not enough scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% believed it was contrary to their religious beliefs. 17 percent said they didn't 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 types of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea focused primarily on the education of students and bringing Christ to them. In 1980, a four-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the main speakers. This event attracted a huge number of pastors, professors, church leaders, and scientists.
The success of the event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 in 1980. The inauguration meeting was widely covered in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also attracted a lot of attention.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, in which it covered its activities and also published articles on scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several films and slides from ICR and several books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members lectured throughout the country at universities and churches.
One example of one KACR success story was at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, there were enough students interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the money and support needed to build a small museum on campus showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine called CREATION. This magazine covers topics in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It also has local branches that hold seminars and present talks to schoolchildren and community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements imported from overseas. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. During this period the famous samulnori, also known as masked dancing-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drums and other instruments of music.
Korea's new development model is being formed in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The primary challenge facing the new regime lies in the proper balance between the state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also involves changing the incentives monitoring and discipline strategies that have been a part of the system before the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 & 4.
Baekje was 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. In the early 4th century, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory as far as Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. Consequently, it came into frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders along the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries saw powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye an eminent 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. He was an adversary to Goguryeo.
However his rule was not long-lasting. After Gungye was defeated by a powerful local leader Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935, Later Baekje was peacefully integrated into Goryeo as an alternative state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the central government system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point, the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla gradually grew into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.