Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist inclinations. However, it is more stable than what one might expect.
The country is searching for an entirely new model of development. A Confucian culture that emphasizes respect for ancestors and gendered family relationships continues to influence the way we live. There are indications of a secularist culture trend forming.
Origins
During prehistoric times the ancestors of modern Koreans lived on hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans and other crops. They also raised livestock, and even made furs. These people formed tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metalworking, making bronze tools, and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced celadon papermaking, block printing art styles, as well as written language to Japan.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was founded in the southern region of the peninsula. This state embraced Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. In this period the people of Buyeo were part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure that included a monarch as well as senior officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the majority of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to serve in the army or construct fortifications.
At the close of the period, the state of Baekje was founded 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 clashed with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the region. Baekje took on Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and made the male-centered concept of filiopiety a doctrine. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families and had to be revered and obeyed by all people, even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who ruled from 918 to 1392 CE established the Hangul alphabet that was based on the shapes formed by the mouth during pronunciation. This greatly improved communication between people, and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also refined. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements can be seen in the form of cist graves lined with stones, and adorned with valuable items like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens and built of single large stones, are common in the country.
In the first part of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognizable political state. After that the peninsula was ruled by a variety of states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCfrom 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo and Silla. The northern region of the peninsula was for a while occupied by the Balhae Kingdom which historians do not consider to be a genuine Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje, the most powerful of these states, was diminished by the fall of Goguryeo (676 CE), leaving it with only its southern territories in Manchuria, and the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo as well as the Gaya confederacy, thrived for a short period of time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to work together in order to expand their territories. Silla with the help of the Chinese, eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.
As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase, its development paradigm is in flux. The people who are awed by the huge cost of the old systems support a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and markets for products. On the other hand the people who support the old system try to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments and by exaggerating fears about possible job losses.
Academic and policy analysts remain sharply divided on the extent to these two trends are driving Koreas development towards a new model of economic governance. This article reviews the latest developments by analyzing five phases of Korea's political development that include illiberal democracy (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 key factors that are driving these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made progress in promoting their views to this segment. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that nearly one third of respondents do not believe in the theory of evolution. Of the respondents, 41% believed that there was no scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% believed it was contrary to their religious beliefs. 17% said they did not understand it. This level of disbelief is comparable to that in the United States, where a similar percentage of people do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea was primarily focused on educating students and bringing Christ to them. A significant rise in interest in creation science came in 1980, with an all-day seminar that was held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the main speakers. The event attracted a large audience of scientists, professors, and church leaders.
The event's success led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 of 1980. The inauguration meeting was widely reported in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and attracted a lot of attention.
KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In CREATION, the organization published its own activities and published articles on scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of films and slides from ICR and also several books on creationism that were already in print outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the nation in universities and churches.
A KACR success was observed at the KAIST University in Seoul. There, students were so interested in creationism that they raised the money and support needed to build an on-campus museum showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine called CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics that pertain to the science of creation. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It also has local branches that conduct seminars and present talks to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the late 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced by miniskirts, and other fashion elements from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. During 에볼루션 , or masked dance-dramas, were popular with the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers and other musical instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being created in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The biggest challenge facing the new regime is to strike the right balance between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also involves altering incentives, monitoring, or discipline schemes that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo Prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other areas, as well as migrants 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. In the process, it entered into frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders across the border.
The fall of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries saw powerful local factions to rise. Gungye was a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. It also exerted control over part of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
However the rule of his was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935, and then united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla, later incorporated Baekje into Goryeo and acted as a peaceful successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the central government system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point on, 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.