Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist tendencies. It's still better than was expected.
The country is seeking a new paradigm of development. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for the ancestors as well as gendered family relationships, continues to influence the society. However, there are signs that a secularist culture is beginning to emerge.
Origins
In the prehistoric era the ancestors of the modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet and beans as well as other crops. They also raised livestock and made furs. These tribes formed tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry for metalworking, which produced bronze tools, and later iron tools. They traded with other nations and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan and also styles of art and a written language and paper making.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. In this period the inhabitants of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy where the monarch and other senior officials were members of the land aristocracy, while the majority of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens and sometimes even required them to join the army or to build fortifications.
Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo, founded the state of Baekje at the close of the time. The new kingdom grew into the southwest region of the peninsula, and was at war against the Goguryeo commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje included elements of Confucian thinking into its state beliefs and made the male-centric filiopiety idea an official doctrine in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were responsible to their families. They were expected to be obeyed by all and respected even by their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, which would rule from 에볼루션코리아 until 1392 CE introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth when it was pronounced. 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. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of graves that were lined with stones, and adorned with valuable items like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, constructed from enormous single stones, are widespread throughout the country.
Gojoseon became the first political state to be recognized during the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. After that, the peninsula was ruled by several states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCbetween 635 and 57 BC CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. In addition, the northern region of the peninsula was ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which many historians don't consider to be a legitimate Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Of them, Baekje was the most powerful of them all but its dynasty dissolved with the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE, leaving Baekje with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy thrived for some time.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms started to work together to expand their territories. Silla, with the help of the Chinese, eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters a post-crisis era the way it develops appears to be changing. The people who are awed by the costs of the old systems advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and markets for products. On the other hand, people who support the old system seek to preserve it through nationalist sentiments and by exaggerating fears about possible job loss.
The academic and policy analysts remain in a tense debate about the extent to these two developments are driving Koreas development towards an entirely new model of economic governance. This article reviews developments to date by analyzing five phases of the country's political evolution that include 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 significant factors that may be influencing these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their beliefs to this population. A 2009 survey revealed that nearly a 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% claimed that it did not align with their religious beliefs, and 17 percent said they did not understand it. The level of doubt is comparable 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 primarily focused on educating students and the introduction of Christ to them. An increase in interest in creation science began in 1980, with the inauguration of a four-day seminar during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. The event attracted an impressive crowd of scientists, professors, and church leaders.
The success of this event led to the establishment of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st 1981. The inaugural event was widely reported in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and attracted a lot of attention.
KACR began publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the organization published its own activities and published articles about scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of films and slides from ICR, as well as some books on the subject that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members delivered lectures in universities and churches across the country.
A KACR success was seen at the KAIST University in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were fascinated by creationism that they raised funds and received funding to construct an enlightened museum on campus.
In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine, CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics in the field of creation science. It also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established an organization of local branch offices that host talks and seminars to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the late 19th century and into the early the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts and other foreign fashion elements. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern rock and roll and jazz. In this time, the famous samulnori or the masked dance-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drums and other instruments of music.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new paradigm of development. The biggest challenge facing the new regime is to strike a balance between state-led and market-oriented economic policies. It also requires a change in the incentives and monitoring schemes that have created the system before the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Established 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 migrants from northern China. In the 4th century, in the early part of, Baekje was a major regional power and expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. As a result, it was in frequent confrontation with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies across the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries saw powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye, a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital and exerted control over part of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He was a rival to Goguryeo.
His rule was however only for a short time. After Gungye was defeated 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 rule system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From that point on the Korean peninsula was controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually became powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.