Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist tendencies. It's still better than we had hoped for.
The country is seeking a new paradigm of development. A Confucian culture that values respect for ancestors and gendered family relations continues influence the society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend that is emerging.
Origins
In the early days, the ancestors to today's Koreans were able to survive 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 the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also developed a metalworking industry, producing bronze tools, and later iron ones. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon paper making block printing, art styles and writing to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. In this period the people of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure that included a monarch as well as senior officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy while the majority of the population were peasants. Recommended Website collected taxes from these people and sometimes even forced them to join the army or construct fortifications.
By the end of this period, the state of Baekje was founded by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. This new kingdom expanded into the southwest of the peninsula, and fought against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the region. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE, and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety a tenet. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families and they must be respected and obeyed by all, including their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, who ruled from 918 until 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth when it was pronounced. This significantly improved communication between people, and led to an explosion in the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and the movable metal type were also refined. 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 has been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times and early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of graves lined with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewellery being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, and made of large stones in a single piece, are prevalent throughout the country.
In the first second half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. The peninsula was then ruled by a number of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) including Baekje and Goguryeo. Additionally, the northern part of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which many historians don't consider to be a legitimate Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, also known as the Several States Period. In all of them, Baekje was the most powerful state but its dynasty dissolved with the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE and left it with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy prospered for a period of time.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to work together to expand their territories. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated all other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase, its development paradigm seems to be changing. Those who are appalled by the huge cost of the old system advocate the need for a comprehensive program of liberalization in capital as well as labor markets. On the other hand supporters of the old system want to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and inflating fears of job loss.
Academics and analysts are divided on the extent to which Korea's development is influenced by these two trends. This article examines the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development that include 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 important factors that appear to influence these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their beliefs to this population. A 2009 survey showed that nearly one-third of respondents were against evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there was not enough scientific evidence to support evolution; 39% said the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs and 17% said it was difficult to grasp. This level of disbelief approaches that of the United States, where a majority of people do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, the majority of the anti-evolutionist movement in Korea was focused on teaching college students and bringing them to Christ. In 1980 an all-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. This event was attended by a large audience of scientists, professors and church leaders.
The success of this event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31, 1981. The inauguration meeting was widely covered in national newspapers, such as The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also received wide attention.
KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In CREATION, the organization published its own activities and published articles on the scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of film strips and slides from ICR and also some books on creationism which were already published outside of Korea. KACR members lectured throughout the country at universities and churches.
One example of one KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, students were so interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the money and support to construct an on-campus museum showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. This magazine covers topics that pertain to the science of creation. It also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also organized local branches that hold seminars and present talks to children in schools and community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the late nineteenth century and the early 20th century, Korea began to adopt an increasingly Westernized lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts and other fashion elements from abroad. Similarly, traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern jazz and rock and roll. In this period the famous samulnori or masked dance dramas, were loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and different musical instruments.
Korea's new development model is being formed in the wake of the economic crisis. The biggest challenge facing the new regime is to find a balance between state-led and market-oriented economic policies. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring, or disciplining systems that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are examined in Chapters 3 and 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 and also by a migrant 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 confrontation with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders across the border.
The decline of Silla in the 8th and early 9th centuries allowed powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye an eminent noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. It also held control over a portion of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
However his rule was not long-lasting. 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 incorporated peacefully into Goryeo as a successor state. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central rule system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From that point the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.