Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. Nonetheless, it is healthier than what one might expect.
The country is in search of an alternative development model. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for ancestors and gendered family relations continues to influence the way we live. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend that is emerging.
Origins
In prehistoric times the ancestors of the modern Koreans were able to survive by hunting and gathering wild foods. Around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate millet and beans as well as other crops. They also raised livestock, and also made furs. These people formed tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metallurgy industry, producing bronze and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced cedon, paper making, block printing art styles, and written language to Japan.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was established on the southern part of the 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 that included a monarch as well as top officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the rest of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens, and sometimes required them to join the army or construct fortifications.
Onjo Prince Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong the founder of Goguryeo, founded the state of Baekje at the end of the period. This new kingdom expanded its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and fought with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the area. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas into its state belief system in 1390 CE and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety a tenet. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They had to be obeyed by everyone and respected even by their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, which would rule from 918 until 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet that was based on the shapes formed by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase 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 inhabited from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of cist 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 also common throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first state to be recognized during the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. The peninsula was then ruled by a number of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) which included Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern portion of the peninsula was occupied for a time by the Balhae Kingdom that historians do consider to be a genuine 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 ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE, leaving it with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy thrived for some time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to work together in order to expand their territorial holdings. Silla with the aid of the Chinese eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.
As Korea is entering a post-crisis period, its development paradigm seems to be changing. People who are shocked by the enormous cost of the old system are urging an extensive program of liberalization in capital as well as labor markets. On the other hand, champions of the old system want to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and inflating fears about job losses.
Analysts and academics are divided over the extent to which Korea's development is being driven by these two trends. This article focuses on the five phases of Korea's evolution in terms of its political development: democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60) democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (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. The creationists have been successful in promoting their views to this population. A 2009 survey showed that nearly a third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of the respondents, 41% believed that there was no scientific evidence to support the theory 39% of respondents said it contradicted their religious beliefs. 17 percent said they didn't understand it. This level of doubt is similar to that of the United States, where a majority of people do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced types of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea was focused on educating students and bringing Christ to them. In 1980 an all-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. The event was attended by a large number of professors, church leaders, and scientists.
The success of this event led to the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st 1981. The meeting was covered extensively in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, in which it reported on its activities and published articles on scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated film strips and slides from ICR and also some books on creationism which were published outside of Korea. KACR members delivered lectures in universities and churches across the country.
A KACR success was witnessed at KAIST University in Seoul. There, there were enough students interested in 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 work, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine, CREATION. This magazine covers topics in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established branches in local offices that host talks and seminars to schoolchildren and community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other style elements imported from overseas. Similar to the way traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern jazz and rock and roll. In the period of this transition, the famous samulnori or masked dancing-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers as well as other instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being created in the wake of the economic crisis. The primary challenge for 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 been a part of the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 & 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo, prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo, was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other regions, as well as migrants from northern China. Baekje, one of the major regional powers in the early 4th Century expanded its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. In the process, it entered into frequent confrontation with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders along the border.
The fall of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries saw strong local factions to emerge. Gungye was a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital and was in control of a portion of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He was an adversary to Goguryeo.
The rule of his was, however, short-lived. After Gungye's defeat, he was overthrown by a powerful local leader Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935, Later Baekje was peacefully integrated into Goryeo as a successor state. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central government system. 무료 에볼루션 marked the end of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point on, the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly developed into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.