Evolution Korea
The democratic system in South Korea is prone to populist tendencies. However, it's healthier than one would expect.
The country is searching for a new development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes 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 early days the ancestors of the modern Koreans were capable of surviving by hunting and gathering wild foods. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans, and other crops. They also raised livestock and created furs. These people formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created a metallurgy industry, producing iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other states and introduced cedon paper making block printing art styles, and a written language to Japan.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was founded on the southern part of the peninsula. This state embraced Chinese culture, including Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. In this time, the inhabitants of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical with the monarch and top officials were from the aristocracy of the land, while the rest of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these people and sometimes even forced them to serve in the army or build fortifications.
At the end of this 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. 에볼루션코리아 grew into the southwest part of the peninsula, and was at war with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the region. Baekje adopted Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE, and made the male-centered concept of filiopiety into a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They must be obedient to everyone and admired by even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a country that ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the shapes that were created by the mouth while pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to a rise 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' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence for human settlements is visible in the form of stone-lined cist graves with precious goods like amazonite jewelry being buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, and made from single large stones are widespread throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first state to be recognized during the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. The peninsula was later under the control of a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) including Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern part of the peninsula was occupied for a period by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not consider to be a genuine Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Among them, Baekje was the most powerful but its dynasty dissolved with the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE leaving Baekje with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region surrounding 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 cooperate in order to expand their territories. Silla with the aid of the Chinese eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase, its development paradigm seems to be in flux. Those who are horrified by the enormous cost of the old system support a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and product markets. On the other hand, supporters of the old system seek to protect it by promoting nationalist sentiments, and by inflating fears about potential job losses.
Academics and analysts are divided about the extent to which Korea's evolution is being driven by these two trends. This article assesses the latest developments by analyzing five phases of the country's political evolution that include the illiberal democratic period (1945-60) democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87), democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and democratic participation (2002 to the present). This article also identifies some important factors that appear to be shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their beliefs to this group. A 2009 survey showed that nearly one-third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% stated that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory 39% believed it was contrary to their religious beliefs. 17 percent said they didn't know what it meant. This level of doubt is similar to that in the United States, where a similar percentage of people do not accept that humans evolved from less advanced types of life.
In the past of the anti-evolution movements in Korea was focused on educating college students and leading them to Christ. An increase in interest in creation science began in the year 1980, when there was the inauguration of a four-day seminar during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. The event attracted a large audience of professors, scientists, and church leaders.
The success of this event led to the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The inaugural meeting was widely covered in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also was well-received by the public.
KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the organization presented its own work and published articles about scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR as well as some books on creationism that were already published outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures across the country at universities and churches.
One instance of one KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were keen on the concept of creationism that they raised funds and received funding to build a small creationist museum on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION that covers topics related to creation science, and it has hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also organized a network of local branches that hold seminars and provide talks to children in schools 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 Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced by miniskirts, and other fashion elements from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. At this time, the famous samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, were popular with the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers as well as other musical instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new paradigm of development. The new regime's main challenge is the balance between state-led economic policies as well as market-based ones. It also involves changing the incentives and monitoring schemes that have created the pre-crisis system. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established jointly by the people who lived along the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas, and immigrants from northern China. Baekje, an important regional power in the early 4th Century extended its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do south. As a result, it was in frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies across the border.
The decline 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 its capital. He controlled a part of today's Jeolla province and 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 unified Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla Later, he incorporated Baekje into Goryeo and acted as a peaceful successor. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central ruling system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was then ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually grew to become powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.