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 a new development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors and as well as gendered family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend that is emerging.
Origins
In the prehistoric era the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock and made furs. These people formed tribal states in succession in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created an industry of metalworking, making bronze tools and later iron ones. They traded with other nations and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan along with styles of art, a written language, and papermaking.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. In this time, the inhabitants of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society with a monarch and senior officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the rest of the population were peasants. 에볼루션 무료체험 collected taxes from these people, and sometimes required them to join the army or construct fortifications.
Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong the founder of Goguryeo and the state of Baekje towards the end of the time. The new kingdom expanded to the southwest region of the peninsula, and was at war against Goguryeo's 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 into a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were responsible for their families and they must be obeyed and respected by all people, even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a nation that was ruled from 918 to 1392 CE, gave the world the Hangul Alphabet, based on the shapes created by the mouth when pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to a rise in the writing of Buddhist text. In addition, movable metal type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was improved. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times until. Early evidence of human settlements can be found in the form cist graves that were lined with stone, with valuable items like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, constructed from huge single stones, are common throughout the country.
In the first half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. The peninsula was ruled by a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 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 valid Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). In all of them, Baekje was the most powerful state, but its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE and left it with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around 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 cooperate to expand their territories. 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 appears to be changing. The people who are awed by the enormous cost of the old system support a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand those who support the old system are seeking to preserve it by leveraging nationalist sentiments and exaggerating fears of job loss.
The academic and policy analysts remain starkly divided as to the extent to which these two developments are driving Koreas evolution towards an economic model that is radically different from the one of governance. This article examines the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development including democratic democracies that are not liberal (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also highlights the most important factors that appear to be the driving force behind these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have had success in promoting their views among this group. A survey from 2009 showed that nearly one-third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there was not enough evidence from science to support the theory 39% of respondents said that the theory contradicted their religion and 17% said it was difficult to understand. This level of disbelief is similar to the United States where a similar percentage of people do not believe that humans evolved from lesser advanced types of life.
In the past, most of the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading them to Christ. An increase in the interest in creation science occurred in 1980, with an all-day seminar that was held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. The event was attended by a large number of professors, church leaders and scientists.
The success of this event resulted in the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31, 1981. The meeting was covered extensively in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the organization presented its own work and published articles about scientific evidence supporting creationism. 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 gave lectures across the nation in universities and churches.
One example of a KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, students were so interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the funds and support needed to build a small museum on campus showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine called CREATION. The magazine covers subjects in the creation science. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It has also established local branches, which hold seminars and give talks to school children and other community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter part of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized style of life. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements imported from abroad. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern jazz and rock and roll. In the period of this transition the samulnori, or the masked dance-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and other instruments.
Korea's new model of development is being created in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is to strike a balance between market-oriented and state-led economic policies. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring or discipline schemes that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 & 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 regions as well as migrant workers from northern China. In the early 4th century, 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 battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies along the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the development of powerful local factions. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He controlled a part of today's Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He became a rival to Goguryeo.
The rule of his was, however, short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935, and then united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla Later, he incorporated Baekje into Goryeo peacefully as a successor. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central ruling system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point, the Korean peninsula was controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually became powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.