Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is susceptible to populist impulses. However, it is more stable than might be expected.
The country is looking for a new paradigm of development. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for the ancestors as well as gendered family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are indications of a secularist cultural trend emerging.
Origins
In the early days the ancestors of the today's Koreans were capable of survival through hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops like millet and beans. They also raised livestock and produced furs. They created tribal states in Manchuria, and then on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools, including bronze. They also traded with other countries and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan and also styles of art and a written language and papermaking.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was founded in the southern part of the peninsula. The state embraced Chinese culture, including Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this time, the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. click this link here now was a hierarchical state with the monarch and top officials were members of the land aristocracy, while the rest of its population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these people and sometimes even forced them to join the army or build fortifications.
Onjo Prince 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 part of the peninsula, and was at war against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje incorporated aspects of Confucian thought into its state belief system and made the male centered concept of filiopiety an official doctrine in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were responsible for their families, and had to be obeyed and respected by all people, even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, a nation that was ruled from 918 to 1392 CE in the year 1392 CE, introduced to the world the Hangul Alphabet based on the shapes that were created by the mouth when pronouncing. This significantly improved the communication between people and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. Additionally, movable metal type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was refined. It was during this period that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times until. Early evidence of human settlements can be seen in the form cist graves paved with stone, with valuable items like amazonite jewelry that were buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, constructed from enormous single stones, are widespread throughout the country.
In the first part of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. The peninsula was later controlled by a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) including Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern region of the peninsula was for a while occupied by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not believe to be a real Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Of them, Baekje was the most powerful, but its dynasty ended by the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE leaving the southern provinces 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 started to work together to expand their territories. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered all other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters a post-crisis era its development model appears to be changing. The people who are affronted by the huge cost of the old system advocate a thorough program of liberalization in capital, labor, and product markets. On the other hand supporters of the old system are seeking to preserve it by leveraging nationalist sentiments and inflating fears of job loss.
Academics and analysts are divided on the extent to which Korea's growth is being driven by these two trends. This article focuses on the five phases of Korea's evolution in terms of its political development: illiberal democracies (1945-60) democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also highlights key factors that seem to be shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made strides in promoting their views to this segment. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that nearly one third of respondents do not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there was not enough scientific evidence to support evolution 39% claimed that the theory did not align with their beliefs; and 17% said it was difficult to grasp. This level of doubt is comparable to that of the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from earlier types of life.
In the past, the majority of the anti-evolutionist movement in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading them to Christ. An increase in interest in creation science came in 1980, with the inauguration of a four-day seminar during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. This event was attended by an audience of professors, scientists, and church leaders.
The success of this event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The event was widely covered in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter called CREATION, which covered its activities and published articles on scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several films and slides from ICR and several books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members lectured throughout the country in churches and universities.
A KACR success was observed at the KAIST University in Seoul. There, students were so interested in creationism that they raised enough money and support to put up a small museum on campus showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine, CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics that pertain to the science of creation. It also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has local branches, which hold seminars and provide talks to school children and other community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the late nineteenth century and the early 20th century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced with miniskirts, as well as other foreign fashion elements. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. During this time, the famous samulnori, or masked dance dramas, were popular with the public. These dramatic pieces were performed with the accompaniment of shaman drums and various types of musical instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being developed in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is the balance between state-led economic policies and market-oriented ones. It also requires a change in the incentives and monitoring strategies that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 & 4.
The Baekje was founded 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 migrants 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. In the process, it entered into frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders 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 the present-day Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
His rule was however only for a short time. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla and later joined Baekje into Goryeo peacefully as a successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centrally-run system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From then on the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually became powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.