Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. However, it's healthier than what one might expect.
The country is searching for an innovative development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend forming.
Origins
In prehistoric times the ancestors of today's Koreans were capable of surviving by hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate millet and beans as well as other crops. They also raised livestock and made furs. These people formed tribal states in succession in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry for metalworking, which produced bronze tools, and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon papermaking block printing art styles, and written language to Japan.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was established in the southern region of the peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. During this period the people 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 its population was peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens and sometimes even forced them to serve in the army or build fortifications.
By the end of the 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. 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 introduced elements of Confucian thinking into its state beliefs and made the male-centric concept of filiopiety an official doctrine in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families and had to be respected and obeyed by all, including their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who ruled from 918 to 1392 CE introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet that was based on the shapes formed by the mouth during pronunciation. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and movable type were also refined. In 1145 CE, the Samguk Sagi, or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was the first to be recorded.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form cist graves paved with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry that were buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens and constructed from single large stones are widespread throughout the country.
In the first second half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. The peninsula was later ruled by a number of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) which included Baekje and Goguryeo. Moreover, the northern region of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which the majority of historians don't consider to be a proper Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). In all of them, Baekje was the most powerful, but its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE, leaving Baekje with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy thrived for some time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territorial holdings. In the final phase, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered all other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase its development model appears to be changing. People who are shocked by the costs of the old systems support a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and product markets. On the other hand, those who support the old system are seeking to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and inflating fears over potential job losses.
Academic and policy analysts remain sharply divided on the extent to which these two developments are driving Koreas shift towards an entirely new model of economic governance. This article analyzes the five phases of Korea's evolution in terms of its political development that include democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also identifies some important factors that appear to be influencing these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their views to this population. A 2009 survey revealed that almost a third of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there was insufficient evidence from science to support the theory; 39% said the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs and 17% claimed it was difficult to understand. This level of doubt is similar to that of the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from earlier forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea was focused on educating students and bringing Christ to them. In 1980 an all-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. 에볼루션 슬롯 and Duane Gish of ICR as the main speakers. This event attracted a huge number of pastors, professors, church leaders and scientists.
The success of the event resulted in the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st in 1980. The meeting was covered extensively in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In it, the group presented its own work and published articles about scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of film strips and slides from ICR as well as some books on creationism which were published outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the country at universities and churches.
A KACR success was observed at KAIST University in Seoul. There, students were so interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the money and support needed to build a small museum on campus featuring creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION that covers topics related to creation science. It has also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established local branches that conduct seminars and present talks to schoolchildren and community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and the beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements imported from abroad. Similar to the way traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern jazz and rock and roll. In the period of this transition, the famous samulnori or dance-dramas with masks were extremely popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drums and other instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new development paradigm. The primary challenge facing the new regime is the balance between the state-led economic policies and market-oriented ones. It also requires altering incentives, monitoring, or disciplining schemes which have been a part of the system prior 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 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. As a result, it was in frequent confrontation with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders along the border.
The fall of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries saw powerful local factions to rise. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He was the ruler of a large portion of today's Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
However, his rule was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935, and then united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla Later, he incorporated Baekje into Goryeo without a fight as his successor. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central ruling system. This marked the closing of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was then ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually grew to become powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.