Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is susceptible to populist impulses. It is still healthier than we had hoped for.
The country is in search of a new development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for ancestors and as well as gendered family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend emerging.
Origins
In the prehistoric era, the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. Then around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock, and made furs. They also established tribal states in succession in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created a metallurgy industry, producing iron tools, including bronze. They also traded with other countries and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan, as well as art styles 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. During this time, the people of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure in which a monarch and high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the majority of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens, and sometimes required them to join the army or to build fortifications.
At the end 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 expanded its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commandos in the region. Baekje adopted Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE, and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families, and had to be respected and obeyed by all people, even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a country that was ruled from 918 to 1392 CE in the year 1392 CE, introduced to the world the Hangul Alphabet based on the patterns 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 the first to be recorded.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times to. Early evidence of human settlements can be found in the form cist graves lined with stone, and decorated with valuable items like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, made of huge single stones, are common throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized during the first half of 1st millennium BCE. After that, the peninsula was ruled by several states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla. Additionally, the northern part of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which most historians do not believe to be a proper Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states arose in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje was the most powerful of these states, was weakened by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE), leaving it with only its southern regions in Manchuria and the its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo as well as the Gaya confederacy, thrived for a time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territorial holdings. Silla with the aid of the Chinese, eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters the post-crisis era its development model is in flux. Those who are appalled by the immense cost of the old system would prefer an extensive 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 inflating fears about potential job loss.
The academic and policy analysts remain sharply divided on the extent to these two trends are driving Koreas evolution towards an economic model that is radically different from the one of governance. This article analyzes the five phases of Korea's development 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 some important factors that appear to be influencing these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made strides in promoting their views to this group. A 2009 survey showed that nearly a third of respondents were against evolution. Of the respondents, 41% believed that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% claimed that it did not align with their religious beliefs, and 17 percent said they didn't know what it meant. This level of disbelief approaches that of the United States, where a majority of people are not convinced that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, most of the anti-evolutionist movement in Korea was focused on teaching college students and in bringing them to Christ. In 1980 the year 1980, a four-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. The event was attended by a large number of pastors, professors, church leaders, and scientists.
The success of this event resulted in the establishment of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The inaugural meeting was widely covered in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and attracted a lot of attention.
에볼루션 블랙잭 started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the organization reported on its own activities and published articles about scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR and also some books on creationism that were already published outside of Korea. KACR members delivered lectures in universities and churches across the country.
A KACR success was seen at KAIST University in Seoul. There, there were enough students fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised the money and support to construct a small museum on campus featuring creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, that covers topics related to creation science. It has also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established an organization of local branch offices that offer seminars and talks to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter part of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts and other fashion elements from abroad. Similarly, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern jazz and rock and roll. During this time the famous samulnori or masked dance-dramas, became popular with the general public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers as well as other instruments.
Korea's new model of development is being created in the wake of the economic crisis. The biggest challenge facing the new regime is to find the right balance between market-oriented and state-led economic policies. It also involves rethinking the incentives and monitoring schemes that have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje was founded by Onjo the prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo was established by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other areas and also by a migrant from northern China. Baekje was an important regional power in the 4th century expanded its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. The kingdom was in constant conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanderies on the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries allowed powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He ruled a portion of the present-day Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He was an adversary to Goguryeo.
His rule was however only for a short time. After his defeat, Gungye was replaced by an influential local leader, Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935. Later Baekje was peacefully incorporated into Goryeo as an heir state. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized ruling system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was then under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly developed into powerful states on the peninsula, and in Manchuria.