Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is susceptible to populist impulses. It's still better than we had hoped for.
The country is in search of a new development paradigm. A Confucian culture that values respect for the ancestors and gendered family relations continues influence the way we live. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend emerging.
Origins
During prehistoric times the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. About 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet and beans as well as other crops. They also raised livestock and also made furs. These people formed tribal states in succession in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created a metallurgy business, making iron tools and bronze. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon papermaking block printing art styles, as well as a written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Chinese culture, including Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this time the inhabitants of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society in which a monarch and high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the rest of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these people, and sometimes required them to join the army or build fortifications.
By the end of the period the state of Baekje was established by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and was the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. The new kingdom grew its territory into the southwest of the peninsula and fought with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the region. Baekje took on Confucian ideas into its state belief system in 1390 CE, and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families and had to be revered and obeyed by everyone, even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, who ruled from 918 to 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet built on the patterns created by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved communication between people, and led to an explosion in the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and the movable metal type were also improved. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi or 'History of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times to. Early evidence of human settlements can be seen in the form of cist graves paved with stone, with precious items such as amazonite jewelry buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, known as dolmens and constructed 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 recognisable political state. The peninsula was then ruled by a number of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) which included Baekje and Goguryeo. In addition, the northern region of the peninsula was ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which the majority of historians don't consider to be a legitimate Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states arose in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Among them, Baekje was the most powerful of them all but its dynasty dissolved by the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE and left Baekje 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 collaborate to expand their territories. Silla with the help of the Chinese eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase the way it develops appears to be in flux. Those who are horrified by the enormous cost of the old system are in favor of a comprehensive plan for liberalization of labor, capital and product markets. On the other hand the supporters of the old system seek to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, and by exaggerating fears about possible job loss.
Academics and analysts are divided over the extent to which Korea's development is being driven by these two trends. This article examines developments to date, by looking at five phases of Korea's political evolution that include the illiberal democratic period (1945-60) democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) and authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87), democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and participatory democracy (2002 to present). This article also identifies some significant factors that may influence these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made significant progress in promoting their views to this group. A survey from 2009 showed that almost one-third of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there was not enough evidence from science to support the theory 39% of respondents said that the theory contradicted their religion; and 17% said it was difficult to comprehend. 에볼루션 사이트 of disbelief is comparable to that in the United States, where a similar percentage of people do not accept that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea was primarily focused on teaching students and the introduction of Christ to them. In 1980, a four-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the main speakers. This event attracted a huge number of church leaders and scientists.
The success of this event resulted in the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31, 1981. The meeting was covered extensively in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter called CREATION, which reported on its activities and also published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. 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 gave lectures in universities and churches across the country.
One example of an KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, enough students were interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the money and support to construct a small museum on campus showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics that pertain to the science of creation. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also created branches in local offices that give talks and seminars to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other fashion elements imported from overseas. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern jazz and rock and roll. In this time, the famous samulnori or the masked dance-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums as well as various types of musical instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new development paradigm. The primary challenge for the new regime is to find a balance between market-oriented and state-led economic policies. It also requires a change in the incentives, monitoring, and disciplining schemes that have been a part of the system before the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo the prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo, was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo, and other areas as well as migrant workers 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. The kingdom was in constant conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanders on the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the rise of powerful local factions. 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 as well as Chungcheong. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
However, his rule was 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 a successor state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centrally-run system. This was 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 Silla slowly developed into powerful states on the peninsula, and in Manchuria.