Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is susceptible to populist tendencies. It is still healthier than we had hoped for.
The country is seeking a new paradigm of development. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to influence the society. However, there are signs that a secularist culture is gaining ground.
Origins
In prehistoric times, the ancestors to today's Koreans were capable of survival through 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 also made furs. These people formed tribal states one after the other 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 cedon paper making block printing art styles, as well as a written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Chinese culture which included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this time, the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure that included a monarch as well as top officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy, while the majority of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to serve in the army or build fortifications.
At the end 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 area. Baekje introduced elements of Confucian thinking into its state belief system and made the male-centric filiopiety concept as a law in 1390 CE. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families and they must be revered and obeyed by all people, even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, a country which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the patterns created by the mouth when it pronounces. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase in the writing of Buddhist text. In addition, movable metal type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was refined. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi, or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was the first to be recorded.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times. Early evidence of human settlements are evident in the form of graves lined with stone, with precious items such as amazonite jewellery being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, and made from single large stones are common in the country.
In the first half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognizable political state. 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. The northern part of the peninsula was occupied for a time by the Balhae Kingdom that historians do believe to be a true Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Baekje, the most powerful of these states was weakened by the fall of Goguryeo (676 CE) and was left with only its southern territories in Manchuria, and western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo, and the Gaya confederacy, flourished for a while.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to work together to expand their territory. In the end, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated all other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters the post-crisis period its development model is in flux. Those who are appalled by the immense cost of the old system would prefer the need for a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor, and product markets. On the other hand the supporters of 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 growth is being driven by these two trends. This article focuses on the five phases of Korea's evolution in terms of its political development including illiberal democracies (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also identifies significant factors that may influence these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their views among this population. A survey in 2009 revealed that nearly a third of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there was insufficient evidence from science to support the theory 39% of respondents said that the theory did not align with their beliefs and 17% claimed it was difficult to grasp. This level of disbelief approaches that in the United States, where a similar number of people do not accept that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolutionist campaign in Korea was primarily focused on teaching students and bringing Christ to them. 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 that featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the keynote speakers. This event was attended by an audience of professors, scientists, and church leaders.
The success of this event led to the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31 1981. The inaugural meeting was widely covered in national newspapers, such as The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also was well-received by the public.
KACR began publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the organization presented its own work and published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated a number of film strips and slides from ICR as well as a few books on creationism that were published outside of Korea. KACR members also gave talks at universities and churches throughout the country.
One instance of a KACR success story was at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at the KAIST university in Seoul were so interested in creationism, they raised money and secured funding to construct a small museum dedicated to creation on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, which covers topics in creation science. It also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also organized local branches that hold seminars and give talks to schoolchildren and community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the late 19th century and 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 from abroad. Similar to the way traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern jazz and rock and roll. In this time the famous samulnori, also known as dance-dramas with masks were extremely popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums as well as various types of musical instruments.
Korea's new development model is being developed in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime lies in the proper balance between state-led economic policies as well as market-oriented ones. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring, or disciplining systems that have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 & 4.
에볼루션 게이밍 was founded 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 immigrants from northern China. Baekje was a major regional power in the early 4th century, expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do south. This meant that it was constantly in conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies on the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries led to the rise of powerful local factions. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He ruled a portion of today's Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He was a rival to Goguryeo.
His rule was however short-lived. After Gungye's defeat, he was overthrown by a powerful 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 centrally-run system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was later 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.