Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist tendencies. It is still healthier than we had hoped for.
The country is searching for an alternative development model. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for ancestors and as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to influence the society. However, there are signs that a secularist culture is gaining ground.
Origins
In the early days the ancestors of the today's Koreans were capable of surviving by hunting and gathering wild foods. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet and beans as well as other crops. They also raised livestock and created furs. These tribes formed tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metalworking industry, producing bronze tools, and later iron ones. They traded with other nations and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan along with art styles, a written language, and paper making.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state adopted Chinese culture that included 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 came from the land aristocracy, while the rest of the population were peasants. The state imposed taxes on these citizens and often required them to join the army or participate in projects of the government, like building 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. This new kingdom expanded its territory into the southwest of the peninsula and fought with Goguryeo and China's commandos in the region. Baekje accepted 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 respected and obeyed by everyone, even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a nation that was ruled from 918 to 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the shapes created by the mouth when pronouncing. 에볼루션 블랙잭 improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. In addition, movable metal type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was refined. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of graves that were lined with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, known as dolmens, and made of large stones in a single piece, are widespread throughout the country.
Gojoseon became the first political state to be recognized during the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. After that the peninsula was ruled by several states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCbetween 635 and 57 BC CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Moreover, the northern region of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which many historians do not believe to be a valid Korean state.
After 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 state but its dynasty dissolved by the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE and left it with its southern territories 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 began to work together to expand their territorial holdings. Silla, with the help of the Chinese, eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea is entering a post-crisis period, its development paradigm seems to be changing. The people who are affronted by the enormous cost of the old system would prefer the need for a comprehensive program of liberalization in capital, labor, and product markets. On the other hand champions of the old system seek to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and generating fear over potential job losses.
Academics and analysts are divided on the extent to which Korea's evolution is influenced by these two trends. This article assesses the latest developments by analyzing five phases of Korea's political evolution that include democratic illiberalism (1945-60) democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87), democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and democratic participation (2002 to present). This article also identifies the key elements that are shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their beliefs to this group. A 2009 survey showed that nearly a third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of the respondents, 41% believed there was not enough scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% believed it was contrary to their religious beliefs; and 17 percent said they did not know what it meant. This level of doubt is similar to that in the United States, where a similar number of people are not convinced that humans evolved from less advanced types of life.
In the past, the anti-evolutionist campaign in Korea was focused on the education of students and in bringing Christ to them. 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 main speakers. This event was attended by an impressive crowd of professors, scientists, and church leaders.
The success of the event led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 of 1980. The event was extensively covered in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In CREATION, the organization presented its own work and published articles about scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated slides and film strips from ICR as well as some books on the subject of creationism, which were published outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the country at universities and churches.
One example of one KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at the KAIST university in Seoul were so interested in creationism, they raised money and secured support to build a small creationist museum on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine, CREATION, that covers topics related to creation science. It has also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established a network of local branches that hold seminars and give talks to school children and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter half of the nineteenth century and the early 20th 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. Similarly, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by contemporary jazz and rock and roll. In this time the famous samulnori, also known as the masked dance-dramas were very popular. These dramatic dances were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and various musical instruments.
Korea's new development model is being created in the wake of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is to find the right balance between the state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also involves rethinking the incentives, monitoring, and disciplining policies that created the system before the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 and 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 4th century, in the early part of, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory as far as Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. In the process, it entered into frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies across the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries saw powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye an eminent noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. He also was in control of a portion of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He became a rival to Goguryeo.
However, his rule was 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 centralized ruling system. This marked the closing of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was then under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.