Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist tendencies. It's still better than expected.
The country is searching for a new way of developing. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for the ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend emerging.
Origins
During prehistoric times the ancestors of 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. They created tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metallurgy industry, producing iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other nations and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan and also styles of art as well as a written language and paper making.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state embraced Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. In this time, the inhabitants of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure with a monarch and senior officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the rest of the population were peasants. The state imposed taxes on these citizens and often required them to fight in the army or participate in projects of the government, like building fortifications.
At the close of the period the state of Baekje was established by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. The new kingdom expanded to the southwest part of the peninsula, and was at war against the Goguryeo commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje adopted Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE, and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety a tenet. Under the guise filiopiety, fathers were responsible to their families. They had to be obeyed by all and respected by their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, a nation which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the patterns created by the mouth while pronouncing. This greatly improved communication between people, and led to an explosion in the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and the movable metal type were also improved. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi or 'History of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times until. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form cist graves paved with stones, and adorned with precious items such as amazonite jewelry buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, known as dolmens, and made of large stones in a single piece, are common in the country.
Gojoseon was the first state to be recognized in the first half of 1st millennium BCE. After that, the peninsula was ruled by several states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo and Silla. 바카라 에볼루션 of the peninsula was occupied for a time by the Balhae Kingdom that historians do consider to be a genuine Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, also known as the Several States Period. Baekje, the most powerful of these states was weakened by the collapse of Goguryeo (676 CE) and was left with only its southern territories in Manchuria, and the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo, and the Gaya confederacy, prospered for a while.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to work together to expand their territory. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase, its development paradigm seems to be changing. People who are shocked by the huge cost of the old systems advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and product markets. On the other hand the people who support the old system attempt to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, and by stoking fears of job losses.
Analysts and academics are divided on the extent to which Korea's evolution is being driven by these two trends. This article examines the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development including democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also identifies important factors that appear to influence these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made strides in promoting their beliefs to this segment. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost one-third of respondents were against evolution. Of those who voted, 41% stated that there was no scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% believed it was contrary to their religious beliefs; and 17% said they did not understand it. The level of doubt is comparable to that of the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on educating students and the introduction of Christ to them. In 1980 an all-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. This event drew an audience of professors, scientists, and church leaders.
The success of the event led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st, 1980. The inauguration meeting was widely reported in national newspapers, such as The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also received wide attention.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, which covered its activities and published articles about scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR as well as some books on the subject of creationism, which were already published outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures in universities and churches across the country.
One example of an KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were interested in creationism, they raised money and secured support to build an enlightened museum on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION which covers topics in creation science. It has also sponsored a series of talks by ICR staff. It has also organized local branches, which hold seminars and present talks to children in schools and community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other fashion elements from overseas. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern rock and roll and jazz. In this time the samulnori, or dance-dramas with masks were extremely popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and other instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new development paradigm. The new regime's main challenge lies in the proper balance between the state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring, or disciplining systems that have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are examined in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje, 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. Baekje was one of the major regional powers in the early 4th century expanded its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. In the process, it entered into frequent confrontation with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders across the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries led to the rise of powerful local factions. Gungye, a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital and held control over a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
His rule was however short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and unified Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla and later joined Baekje into Goryeo and acted as a peaceful successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centrally-run system. This marked the end to the Three Kingdoms Period. From that point on, the Korean peninsula was controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly grew into powerful states on the peninsula as well as in Manchuria.