Evolution Korea
Korean scientists don't take chances when it comes to the debate over evolution. 에볼루션게이밍 for Textbook Revise (STR) has been campaigning to have Archaeopteryx and horses taken out of textbooks, saying they are typical symbols of evolutionism.
Confucian traditions, with their emphasis on global success and the value of education, still dominate the culture of the country. But Korea is searching for a new paradigm of development.
Origins
The growth of Iron Age culture brought more sophisticated states such as Goguryeo Baekje and Silla to the Korean peninsula. Each of them had their own distinct cultural style that was influenced from their powerful neighbors. They also embraced aspects of Chinese culture such as Confucianism, Buddhism and shamanism.
Goguryeo, the first of the Korean kingdoms was the first kingdom to establish their own system of government. It established its authority at the end of the 1st century and established a king-centered governing system in the 2nd century. Through a series of wars, it eliminated those who were loyal to the Han dynasty from the north of the peninsula. It also expanded its territory in Manchuria too.
It was during this period that a regional confederation was formed named Buyeo. In the Samguk yusa of the 13th century Wang Geon's name was recorded as king. Buyeo was then referred to as Goryeo and that is the reason why the name Korea was created. Goryeo was a thriving commercial state as well as a center of learning. They raised goats, sheep and other livestock and created furs from the animals. They wrote poetry and dance-dramas with masks like sandaenori and tallori and also celebrated an annual festival known as Yeonggo in December.
The economy of Goryeo was stimulated by rapid trade, including with the Song Dynasty in China. Byeongnando was the gateway to Gaeseong the capital city of Gaeseong. Traders came from Central Asia, Arabia and Southeast Asia. Silk and medicinal herbs were among the products they brought.
Around 8,000 BCE The Koreans began establishing permanent settlements and cultivating cereal crops. They also created polished stone tools, pottery and began to organize themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age lasted until the 12th century BC. At this time Gija, a prince from the Shang dynasty of China is believed to have brought a new high culture to Korea. Up until the 20th century, a lot of Koreans believed that Dangun and Gija gave Korea its people and their traditional culture, respectively.
Functions
Korea's old development paradigm that stressed the importance of state-led capital accumulation and government intervention in industry and business, led to rapid economic growth, which took it from one of the world's poorest economies to the ranks of OECD countries in three decades. The system was plagued by moral risks and even corruption. It was therefore not sustainable in an economy that is characterised by trade liberalization, and democratization.
The current crisis has revealed the flaws of the current model, and it is expected that a new model will replace it. Chapters 3 and 4 look at the genesis of Korea's business-government risk partnership and explain how the rise of economic actors who have an interest in preserving this system prevented the country from implementing fundamental changes. These chapters, which are focused on corporate governance and financial resource allocation, offer a comprehensive investigation of the underlying reasons for this crisis and suggest ways to proceed with reforms.
Chapter 5 examines possible avenues for Korea's post-crisis paradigm of development by examining both the legacy of the past as well as the new trends brought about by the IT revolution. It also examines the implications of these changes for Korea's political and social structures.
The most important finding is that there are several emerging trends that are changing the nature of power and will affect the future of the country. For instance, despite the fact that participation in politics is still extremely restricted in Korea new ways of political activism are able to bypass and challenge political parties, thus transforming the democratic structure of the country.
Another important fact is that the power and influence of the Korean elite has diminished. A large segment of the population feels disengaged from the ruling class. This indicates the need for greater civic involvement and education as well as new ways of power sharing. The chapter concludes by saying that the success of Korea's new paradigm for development will be determined by the extent to which these trends can be incorporated and if people are willing to make difficult decisions.
Benefits
South Korea has the ninth largest economy in the world, and the sixth fastest-growing. It has a substantial and growing middle class, and a robust research and development base that is driving innovation. In addition, the government has recently increased investments in infrastructure projects to help economic growth and promote social equity.
In 2008 the Lee Myung-bak administration announced five leading indicators in an effort to establish a new system of development with the emphasis on changes and practicality. It aimed to streamline government operations and privatize public corporations for greater efficiency, and overhaul administrative regulations.
Since the ending of the Cold War, South Korea pursues a strategy of the integration of its economy with the rest and beyond the region. The exports of advanced manufacturing technology as well as high-tech consumer electronics have become an important source of income. The government has also been pushing Saemaeul Undong, which is a new movement of the community, to transform the country from a society that is primarily agricultural to one that is focused on manufacturing.
The country also enjoys an excellent standard of living, and provides many benefits for employees, including pregnancy leave and job security. Employers are also required to purchase accident insurance, which covers the costs associated with work-related illness or injury. It is also a common practice for companies offer private medical insurance plans to cover illnesses not covered by National Health Insurance.
South Korea is viewed as a success model for many developing nations across the globe. The global financial crisis of 1997 that swept across Asia and the world, challenged this notion. The crisis shattered the myths about Asia's miracle economies, and led to an overhaul of the role of governments in regulating risky private activities.
It seems that Korea's fate remains uncertain in the aftermath of these changes. On the other hand, a new generation of leaders has adopted the image of an "strong" leader and started to experiment with market-oriented policy. On the other hand, a powerful domestic power base has made it difficult to make fundamental changes.
Disadvantages
The reemergence of creationists is a major obstacle to Korean science's efforts to educate people about evolution. The majority of Koreans support teaching students about evolution, but a small group led 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 a "materialist atheism" and presents an "unhopeful worldview" for students. This could cause students to lose faith in humanity.
The roots of this anti-evolutionary sentiment are a bit ambiguous and varied. 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. Additionally the one-sidedness of the government, supported by powerful conservative think tanks and business interests and business interests, has led to a growing distrust of the scientific community.
Ultimately, the widespread vulnerabilities identified in this study highlight the need for urgent targeted policy interventions to preemptively mitigate the risks. As Seoul continues to pursue its goal of becoming a cohesive urban landscape, these insights can be used to inspire an unifying push for greater inclusivity in its policies.
In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, pinpointing the most vulnerable areas and their inhabitants is essential to devise specific compassionate policy measures to ensure their safety and welfare. The significant impact of COVID-19 on Jjokbangs for instance, is a sign of socio-economic inequality that could increase vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters.
To overcome this, South Korea needs a more inclusive civil society that can bring all communities together to tackle the most pressing issues facing the city. This requires a fundamental change in the structure of the institution, starting with the power of the president. The Blue House is able to mobilize a vast bureaucracy and strategically leverage the Supreme Prosecutor's Office and intelligence bureau, all of which lack any checks from parliamentary bodies or independent inspection agencies. This gives the president tremendous power to force his or her views on the rest of the nation. This is a recipe that could lead to polarization and stagnation of the country.