Evolution Korea
The democratic system in South Korea is susceptible to populist impulses. It's still more stable than we had hoped for.
The country is searching for a new development paradigm. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for ancestors and gendered family relations continues influence the society. There are signs that a secularist culture is beginning to emerge.
Origins
In the prehistoric era the ancestors of the modern Koreans lived by hunting and gathering wild food. In the tens of thousands of years after they began to cultivate crops like millet and beans. They also raised livestock and made furs. These people formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metalworking industry, producing bronze tools and later iron ones. They traded with other countries and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan, as well as styles of art and a written language and paper making.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state adopted Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this time, the people of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure that included a monarch as well as top officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the rest of the population were peasants. 에볼루션 코리아 collected taxes from these citizens and sometimes even forced them to serve in the army or build fortifications.
Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo established the state of Baekje at the close of the time. The new kingdom grew its territory into the southwest of the peninsula and fought with Goguryeo and China's commandos in the region. Baekje took on Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families and had to be respected and obeyed by all people, even their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a country that ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the shapes that were created by the mouth when it pronounces. 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.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times until. Early evidence of human settlements can be seen in the form of cist graves lined with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, built from huge single stones, are also common throughout the country.
In the first second half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognizable 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. In addition, the northern region of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which many historians don't consider to be a proper Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, also known as the Several States Period. Among them, Baekje was the most powerful, but its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE, leaving the southern provinces 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. In the final phase, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered the other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase the development paradigm of the country appears to be changing. The people who are awed by the huge costs of the old systems advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and product markets. On the other hand the people who support the old system seek to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments and by inflating fears about potential job loss.
Analysts and academics are divided about the extent to which Korea's evolution is being driven by these two trends. This article assesses 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) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87), democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and democratic participation (2002 to present). This article also identifies key factors that appear to be the driving force behind 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 survey conducted in 2009 revealed that nearly a third of respondents were against 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. 17% said they did not understand it. This level of disbelief approaches that in the United States, where a majority of people are not convinced that humans evolved from less advanced types of life.
In the past, the majority of the anti-evolutionist movement in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading them to Christ. A significant increase in the interest in creation science occurred in the year 1980, when there was a four-day seminar held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the keynote speakers. This event attracted a huge number of pastors, professors, church leaders and scientists.
에볼루션코리아 of the event led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 of 1980. The inaugural event was widely reported in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and attracted a lot of attention.
KACR began publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the organization reported on its own activities and published articles on the scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR, as well as a few books on creationism that were published outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures across the country in churches and universities.
One instance of one KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, students were so fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised the money and support to construct a small museum on campus with 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 hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branch offices that host talks and seminars to schoolchildren and community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early 20th century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized style of life. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements from overseas. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. At this time the famous samulnori or masked dance-dramas, were loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed with the accompaniment of shaman drums and various types of musical instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being formed in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The new regime's main challenge lies in the proper balance between state-led economic policies as well as market-oriented ones. It also involves changing 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.
Baekje was founded by Onjo the prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo was established by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other regions as well as migrant workers from northern China. Baekje, a major regional power in the early 4th century extended its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do south. The kingdom was in constant conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanderies on the border.
The fall of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries saw powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He controlled a part of today's Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He was a rival to Goguryeo.
The rule of his was, however, 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 and acted as a peaceful successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the central government system. This marked the end to the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was later ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.