Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is susceptible to populist impulses. It is still healthier than was expected.
The country is in search of an innovative development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend that is emerging.
Origins
In the early days the ancestors of modern Koreans were capable of survival through hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans and other crops. They also raised livestock and even made furs. They also established tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also developed an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon paper making block printing art styles, as well as written language to Japan.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon came into existence in the southern part of the peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this time the inhabitants of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure with a monarch and senior officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy while the majority of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these people, and sometimes forced them to serve in the army or construct 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 its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the area. Baekje took on Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and made the male-centered concept of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under the guise filiopiety, fathers were responsible to their families. They had to be obedient to everyone and respected by 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 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.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements can be found in the form of cist graves paved with stones, and adorned with precious items such as amazonite jewelry that were buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, built from enormous single stones, are also prevalent throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first state to be recognized in the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. After that, the peninsula was ruled by several states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCfrom 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo and Silla. The northern part of the peninsula was for a while occupied by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not believe to be a true Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, also known as the Several States Period. Baekje is the most powerful of these states was diminished by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE) and was left with only its southern regions in Manchuria, and western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy, flourished for a while.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territories. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters the post-crisis era, its development paradigm appears to be in flux. People who are shocked by the enormous costs of the old systems advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and product markets. On the other hand, champions of the old system want to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and exaggerating fears over potential job losses.
page and academics are divided on the extent to which Korea's development is influenced by these two trends. This article focuses on the five phases of Korea's evolution in terms of its political development that include illiberal democracies (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also identifies key factors that are the driving force behind these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made significant progress in promoting their views to this group. A 2009 survey showed that nearly a third of respondents didn't believe in 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 percent said they didn't understand it. The level of doubt is similar to that of the United States where a similar percentage of people do not believe that humans evolved from earlier forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolutionist campaign in Korea was focused on the education of students and bringing Christ to them. In 1980, a four-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the keynote speakers. This event drew a large audience of scientists, professors, and church leaders.
The event's success resulted in the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st of 1980. The inauguration meeting was widely reported in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and attracted a lot of attention.
KACR started publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In it, the organization reported on its own activities and published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated film strips and slides from ICR as well as some books on the subject of creationism, which were published outside of Korea. KACR members lectured throughout the country in churches and universities.
One instance of an KACR success story took place at the 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 showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, which covers topics in the field of creation science. It has also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also created a network of local branch offices that offer talks and seminars to schoolchildren and other community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the late nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized style of life. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other style elements from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. In the period of this transition the famous samulnori, also known as masked dancing-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and various musical instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new model of development. The main challenge for the new regime is to find the right balance between the state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also involves altering incentives, monitoring, or disciplining systems that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.
The Baekje was founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established in the middle of the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas, and immigrants from northern China. Baekje, an important regional power in the early 4th Century expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do south. Consequently, it came 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 was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He controlled a part of today's Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
His rule was however only for a short time. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla and later joined Baekje into Goryeo without a fight as his successor. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized ruling system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.