Evolution Korea
The democratic system in South Korea is susceptible to populist impulses. However, it is more stable than one would expect.
The country is looking for an innovative development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for ancestors as well as gendered family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are signs that a secularist culture 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 also made furs. They created tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also developed a metallurgy industry, producing iron tools and bronze. They traded with other nations and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan, as well as art styles as well as a written language and paper making.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state embraced Chinese culture which 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 were from the aristocracy of the land, whereas the rest of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these people and sometimes even forced them to join the army or build fortifications.
Onjo the prince of Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong the founder of Goguryeo and the state of Baekje at the end of the time. The new kingdom grew into the southwest part of the peninsula, and clashed against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety into a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were responsible for their families and they must be revered and obeyed by everyone, even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, which would rule from 918 until 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet built on the patterns created by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metal type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was improved. In 1145 CE, the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was first recorded.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements can be seen in the form cist graves lined with stone, with precious items such as amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, constructed from massive single stones, are widespread 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 under the control of a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE), including Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern part of the peninsula was occupied for a period by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not believe to be a real Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Baekje is the most powerful of these states was diminished by the collapse of Goguryeo (676 CE) leaving only its southern regions in Manchuria and the the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo, and the Gaya confederacy, prospered for a time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to collaborate in order to expand their territories. Silla, with the help of the Chinese, eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As similar site is entering the post-crisis phase its development model is in flux. The people who are affronted by the immense cost of the old system would prefer a thorough program of liberalization in capital as well as labor markets. On the other hand, people who support the old system attempt to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, and by stoking fears of 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 the country's political evolution that include the illiberal democratic period (1945-60) democratic authoritarianism (1961-72), authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and democratic participation (2002 to present). This article also identifies 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 survey in 2009 revealed that nearly one third of respondents do not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% stated there was not enough scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% claimed that it did not align with their religious beliefs; and 17% said they did not comprehend it. The level of doubt is similar to the United States where a similar number do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced types of life.
In the past, most of the anti-evolution movements in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading 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. The event was attended by a large number of professors, church leaders, and scientists.
The event's success led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 of 1980. The inaugural meeting was widely covered in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and attracted a lot of attention.
KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the organization reported on its own activities and published articles about scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated film strips and slides from ICR as well as a few books on creationism which were already published outside of Korea. KACR members delivered lectures in universities and churches across the country.
A KACR success was witnessed at KAIST University in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were keen on the concept of creationism that they raised money and got funding to build a small museum dedicated to creation on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine, CREATION, which covers topics in the field of creation science. Full Content hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established a network of local branches that hold seminars and provide talks to school children and community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and into the early 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts and other style elements from overseas. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. In this time the famous samulnori, also known as dance-dramas with masks were extremely popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers and other instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new model of development. The primary challenge for the new regime is to strike an equilibrium between state-led and market-oriented economic policies. It also requires a change in the incentives, monitoring, and disciplining schemes that have shaped the system before the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo, prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo was established by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other areas as well as migrant workers from northern China. In the early 4th century, Baekje was a major regional power and expanded its territory as far as Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. As a result, it was in frequent battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders along the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries led to the rise of powerful local factions. Gungye an eminent noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. It also held control over a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
The rule of his was, however, short-lived. After his defeat, Gungye was replaced by a powerful local leader Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935, Later Baekje was incorporated peacefully into Goryeo as an heir state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the central government system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From that point the Korean peninsula was under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly developed into powerful states on the peninsula, and in Manchuria.