Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is prone to populist tendencies. However, it is more stable than one would expect.
The country is seeking an entirely new model of development. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for ancestors and gendered family relationships continues to influence the way we live. There are indications of a secularist cultural trend emerging.
Origins
In prehistoric times, the ancestors of modern Koreans lived by hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans, and other crops. They also raised livestock and produced furs. They also established tribal states one after the other 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 countries and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan, as well as art styles, a written language, and papermaking.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. just click the following document embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this time, the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society with a monarch and top officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy, while the majority of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to serve in the army or build fortifications.
At the close 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 its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commandos in the region. Baekje introduced elements of Confucian beliefs into its official belief system and made the male centered filiopiety idea as a law in 1390 CE. Under the guise filiopiety, fathers were responsible to their families. They must be obeyed by everyone and respected by their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a nation that ruled from 918 until 1392 CE, gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based on the patterns created by the mouth when pronouncing. This greatly improved communication between people, and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. In addition, movable metal type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was refined. It was during this period that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times to. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form cist graves lined with stone, and decorated with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, known as dolmens, and made from single large stones are common in the country.
In the first part of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. After that the peninsula was ruled by a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. The northern part of the peninsula was occupied for a time by the Balhae Kingdom that historians do believe to be a real Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje was the most powerful of these states was weakened by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE) and was left with only its southern territories in Manchuria, and the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy, thrived for a while.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territorial holdings. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters a post-crisis era its development model appears to be in flux. Those who are horrified by the cost of the old system are in favor of a comprehensive plan for 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 about job losses.
Academics and analysts are divided over the extent to which Korea's growth is influenced by these two trends. This article examines developments to date, by looking at five phases of Korea's political development including 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 key factors that seem to influence these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made significant progress in promoting their beliefs to this segment. A survey from 2009 showed that nearly one-third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there wasn't enough evidence from science to support the theory 39% claimed that the theory did not align with their beliefs and 17% claimed it was difficult to comprehend. This level of doubt is comparable to that of the United States where a similar number do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea focused primarily on the education of students and the introduction of Christ to them. A significant increase in interest in creation science began in the year 1980, following 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 keynote speakers. This event was attended by an audience of scientists, professors and church leaders.
The success of this event led to the establishment of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31 1981. The inaugural event was widely reported in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also was well-received by the public.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter called CREATION, which covered its activities and published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated several films and slides from ICR and also a few books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members delivered lectures in churches and universities throughout the country.
One example of a KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, students were so interested in creationism that they raised enough money and support needed to build a small museum on campus with creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, which covers topics in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series of talks by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branches that hold seminars and give talks to school children and community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the late 19th century and into the early 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced with miniskirts, and other foreign fashion elements. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by contemporary jazz and rock and roll. During this time the famous samulnori or masked dance dramas, were loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers and other musical instruments.
Korea's new model of development is being formed in the wake of the economic crisis. The new regime's main challenge lies in the proper balance between state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also requires altering incentives, monitoring, or disciplining systems that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Established 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 migrants from northern China. In the 4th century, in the early part of, Baekje was a major regional power and expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. This meant that it was constantly in conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanders at the border.
The fall of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries allowed powerful local factions to rise. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He was the ruler of a large portion of today's Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
His rule was however short-lived. After Gungye's defeat, he was overthrown by an influential local leader, Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935. Later Baekje was peacefully integrated into Goryeo as a successor state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the centrally-run system. This marked the closing 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, and in Manchuria.