Evolution Korea
The democratic system in South Korea is vulnerable to populist impulses. However, it is more stable than might be expected.
The country is looking for an alternative development model. A Confucian culture that values respect for the ancestors and gendered family relations continues to influence society. There are indications of a secularist cultural trend forming.
Origins
In prehistoric times, the ancestors to today's 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 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 tools. They traded with other states and introduced celadon papermaking, block printing art styles, and a written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. In this period, the people of Buyeo were incorporated into Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society with a monarch and high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the majority of the population was peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to join the army or to build fortifications.
Onjo the prince of 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 grew into the southwest of the peninsula, and clashed against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje introduced elements of Confucian thought into its state beliefs and made the male-centric filiopiety concept an official doctrine in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were responsible to their families. They had to be obedient to everyone and respected by their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who would rule from 918 to 1392 CE introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet built on the patterns created by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also improved. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi or 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first written in 1145 CE.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times and early evidence for human settlements is evident in the form graves lined with stone, with precious goods like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, built from enormous single stones, are also widespread throughout the country.
In the first half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. After that, the peninsula was ruled by various states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Moreover, the northern region of the peninsula was ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which most historians don't consider to be a legitimate Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states arose in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje was the most powerful of these states was weakened by the fall of Goguryeo (676 CE), leaving it with only its southern territories in Manchuria, and its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo as well as the Gaya confederacy, thrived for a short period of time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to work together in order to expand their territories. Silla with the help of the Chinese, eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase the way it develops appears to be changing. People who are shocked by the cost of the old systems support a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and product markets. On the other hand, those who support the old system want to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and generating fear over potential job losses.
Academic and policy analysts remain sharply divided on the extent to these two developments are driving Koreas development towards a new model of economic governance. This article reviews developments to date by analyzing five phases of the country's political evolution including democratic illiberalism (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72), authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and participatory democracy (2002 to present). This article also identifies some significant factors that may be shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made progress in promoting their beliefs to this segment. A 2009 survey revealed that nearly one third of respondents do not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there was not enough evidence from science to support the theory 39% claimed that the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs; and 17% said it was difficult to grasp. The level of doubt is similar to the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from lesser advanced types of life.
In the past of the anti-evolution movements in Korea was focused on educating college students and bringing them to Christ. A significant increase in interest in creation science began in the year 1980, following a four-day seminar held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the keynote speakers. This event drew an audience of professors, scientists, and church leaders.
The success of this event resulted in the establishment of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st 1981. The event was extensively covered in the national media, 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 about the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR and some books on the subject that were already in print outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures across the country in churches and universities.
A KACR success was witnessed at the KAIST University in Seoul. Students at the KAIST university in Seoul were so fascinated by creationism that they raised money and got support to build a small museum dedicated to creation on campus.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. The magazine covers subjects in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branches, which hold seminars and present talks to children in schools and other community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter half of the nineteenth century and the early 20th 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. In the period of this transition the famous samulnori, also known as the masked dance-dramas were very popular. 무료에볼루션 were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and different musical instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being created in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The new regime's main challenge is to find the right balance between state-led economic policies and market-oriented ones. It also requires a change in the incentives and monitoring schemes that have shaped the pre-crisis system. These issues are discussed 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 regions, as well as immigrants 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. Consequently, it came into frequent battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies along the border.
The fall of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries allowed powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He ruled a portion of the present-day Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
The rule of his was, however, short-lived. After Gungye was defeated by an influential local leader, Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935, Later Baekje was peacefully incorporated 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 under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly grew into powerful states on the peninsula as well as in Manchuria.