Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist inclinations. However, it's healthier than what one might expect.
The country is looking for a new paradigm of development. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for the ancestors and gendered family relationships continues to influence the society. However, there are signs that a secular culture is gaining ground.
Origins
In the early days, the ancestors to modern Koreans were able to survive by hunting and gathering wild foods. Then around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops like millet and beans. They also raised livestock and made furs. These tribes formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created a metallurgy industry, producing iron tools and bronze. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon paper making, block printing, art styles and a written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. At this time the people of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society with a monarch and high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy while the rest of the population was peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens and sometimes even required them to join the army or build fortifications.
Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong the founder of Goguryeo established the state of Baekje at the close of the time. The 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 in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and made the male-centered concept of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families, and had to be respected and obeyed by all people, even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, who would rule from 918 until 1392 CE introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth during pronunciation. This dramatically improved the communication between people and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. Additionally, movable metallic type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was improved. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi or 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence of human settlements are visible in the form of graves lined with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, and made from single large stones are widespread throughout the country.
In the first part of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. The peninsula was then controlled by a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) including Baekje and Goguryeo. Additionally, the northern part of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which the majority of historians do not believe to be a legitimate Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Among them, Baekje was the most powerful of them all however, its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE and left the southern provinces of Manchuria and the western region around the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy flourished for a short time.
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 aid, conquered the other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea is entering a post-crisis period, its development paradigm seems to be changing. Those who are horrified by the cost of the old system advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and product markets. On the other hand champions of the old system want to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and exaggerating fears of job loss.
Academics and analysts are divided over the extent to which Korea's development is influenced by these two trends. This article focuses on the five phases of Korea's development in terms of its political development that include 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 key factors that seem to be shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their views among this group. A survey from 2009 showed that almost one-third of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% stated there was not enough scientific evidence to support the theory 39% believed it was contrary to their religious beliefs. 17 percent said they did not comprehend it. This level of disbelief approaches that in the United States, where a similar number of people do not accept that humans evolved from less advanced types of life.
In the past of the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading them to Christ. A significant rise in the interest in creation science occurred in the year 1980, following an all-day seminar that was held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the keynote speakers. 에볼루션 카지노 attracted a huge number of church leaders and scientists.
The event's success led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st, 1980. The event was widely covered in the national media, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In CREATION, the organization published its own activities and published articles on scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of film strips and slides from ICR and also some books on the subject of creationism, which were published outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the country at universities and churches.
One example of an KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were so interested in creationism, they raised money and secured funding to construct an enlightened museum on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine, CREATION, which covers topics in creation science, and it has hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also created a network of local branch offices that offer seminars and talks to schoolchildren and other community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the latter half 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 foreign fashion elements. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. During this time the samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, became loved by the public. These dramatic dances were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and various types of musical instruments.
Korea's new development model is being created in the wake of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is to strike an equilibrium between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also requires altering incentives, monitoring, or discipline schemes that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are covered in Chapters 3 & 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo the prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo, was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo, and other areas, as well as migrants from northern China. Baekje was a major regional power in the early 4th century extended its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do south. As a result, it was in frequent battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders along the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries led to the rise of powerful local factions. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He controlled a part of the present-day Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
However the rule of his was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935, and then united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla, later incorporated Baekje into Goryeo without a fight as his successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centrally-run system. This was the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was then ruled 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.