Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist tendencies. It's still better than expected.
The country is seeking a new paradigm of development. 에볼루션 코리아 that stresses respect for the ancestors and gendered family relations continues to influence the way we live. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend emerging.
Origins
In the prehistoric era the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate millet, beans, and other crops. They also raised livestock, and made furs. These tribes formed tribal states in succession in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools and bronze. They traded with other states and introduced celadon paper making, block printing art styles, and a written language to Japan.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was established in the southern part of the peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. At this time the people of Buyeo were part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy where the monarch and senior officials were from the aristocracy of the land, while the majority of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to serve in the army or construct fortifications.
At the close of the 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. The new kingdom grew into the southwest region of the peninsula, and clashed against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the region. 에볼루션 코리아 adopted Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety a tenet. In the name of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families and had to be respected and obeyed by all, including their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, a nation which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet, based on the shapes created by the mouth while pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metallic type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was improved. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi, or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was the first to be recorded.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times to. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form cist graves lined with stones, and adorned with valuable items like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, constructed from enormous single stones, are common throughout the country.
Gojoseon became the first political state to be recognized in 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. Moreover, the northern region of the peninsula was ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which most historians don't consider to be a legitimate Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje was 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 its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy, prospered for a short period of time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territories. In the end, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters the post-crisis period, its development paradigm is in flux. Those who are appalled by the huge cost of the old system advocate a thorough program of liberalization in capital as well as labor markets. On the other hand the supporters of the old system attempt to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments and by stoking fears of job losses.
Academic and policy analysts remain starkly divided as to the extent to these two developments are driving Koreas shift towards a new model of economic governance. This article reviews developments to date by analyzing five phases of the country's political evolution: illiberal democracy (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72), authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001), and participatory democracy (2002 to present). This article also identifies key factors that appear to be shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made progress in promoting their views to this segment. A survey from 2009 showed that nearly a third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there wasn't enough scientific evidence to support evolution 39% of respondents said that the theory contradicted their religion and 17% claimed it was difficult to comprehend. This level of disbelief is comparable to that of the United States, where a majority of people do not accept that humans evolved from less advanced species of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea was focused on educating students and the introduction of Christ to them. A significant increase in interest in creation science came in 1980, with the inauguration of a four-day seminar during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. This event attracted a huge number of professors, church leaders, and scientists.
The success of the event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st of 1980. The meeting was covered extensively in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the organization reported on its own activities and published articles on scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR as well as a few books on creationism which were published outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures in churches and universities throughout the country.
One example of a KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at the KAIST university in Seoul were so keen on the concept of creationism that they raised money and got funding to build an enlightened museum on campus.
In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine called CREATION. The magazine covers subjects that pertain to the science of creation. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It has also established branches in local offices that host seminars and talks to schoolchildren and other community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the late 19th century and into the early 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements 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 dance-dramas with masks were extremely popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers and other musical instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new development paradigm. The main challenge for the new regime is to strike an equilibrium between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring or disciplining schemes which have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 & 4.
The Baekje was founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established jointly by the people who lived along the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas and immigrants from northern China. In the early 4th century, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. In the process, it entered into frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies across the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the development of powerful local factions. Gungye was a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. It also was in control of a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He became an adversary to Goguryeo.
However his rule was not long-lasting. After his defeat, Gungye was replaced 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 heir state. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized ruling system. This marked the closing of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point on, the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually grew to become powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.