Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is susceptible to populist impulses. Nonetheless, it is healthier than what one might expect.
The country is searching for a new paradigm 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 cultural trend that is emerging.
Origins
During prehistoric times, the ancestors of modern Koreans lived by hunting and gathering wild food. About 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans, and other crops. They also raised livestock and produced furs. They formed tribal states in Manchuria, and then on the Korean peninsula. They also developed a metallurgy industry, producing bronze and later iron tools. They also traded with other countries and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan and also styles of art, a written language, and paper making.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. talks about it embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. In this time, the inhabitants of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical state where the monarch and other senior officials were members of the land aristocracy, while the majority of the population was peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens and sometimes even forced them to serve in the army or construct fortifications.
At the end of the period the state of Baekje was established 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 adopted Confucian ideas into its state belief system in 1390 CE, and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families, and had to be respected and obeyed by all people, even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, which would rule from 918 to 1392 CE established the Hangul alphabet that was based on the shapes formed by the mouth when it was pronounced. This significantly improved communication between people, and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also improved. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' was first written in 1145 CE.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements can be found in the form cist graves paved with stones, and adorned with precious items such as amazonite jewelry buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens and constructed from single large stones are prevalent throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first state to be recognized during the first half of 1st millennium BCE. 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. Moreover, the northern region of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which most historians do not believe to be a legitimate Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Baekje, the most powerful of these states, was diminished by the collapse of Goguryeo (676 CE), leaving it with only its southern regions in Manchuria and the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy, thrived for a short period of time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to collaborate in order to expand their territory. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered the other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters a post-crisis era the way it develops appears to be in flux. Those who are appalled by the immense cost of the old system advocate a thorough program of liberalization in capital as well as labor and product markets. On the other hand, supporters of the old system try to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, and by stoking fears of job loss.
Academic and policy analysts remain in a tense debate about the extent to these two developments are driving Koreas shift towards a new model of economic governance. This article examines developments to date by analyzing five phases of Korea's political development that include democratic illiberalism (1945-60) democratic authoritarianism (1961-72), authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and participatory democracy (2002 to the present). This article also highlights the most important factors that appear to be shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made strides in promoting their beliefs to this group. A 2009 survey found that nearly three-quarters of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those who voted, 41% stated that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% said it contradicted their religious beliefs, and 17 percent said they did not understand it. This level of disbelief is similar to that of 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 focused primarily on educating students and in bringing Christ to them. A significant increase in interest in creation science began 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. The event was attended by a large number of professors, church leaders and scientists.
The success of this event led to the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The inauguration meeting was widely covered in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also received wide attention.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, in which it published its activities and also published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated a number of films and slides from ICR, as well as several books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures across the country in churches and universities.
One example of an KACR success story was at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were keen on the concept of creationism that they raised money and secured funding to build a small creationist museum on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, which covers topics in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series of talks by ICR staff. It also has an organization 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 lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other style elements from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. In this time, the famous samulnori or dance-dramas with masks were extremely popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers and other instruments of music.
Korea's new model of development is being created in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The new regime's main challenge lies in the proper balance between the state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also involves changing the incentives monitoring and discipline strategies that have shaped the system before 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 areas and also by a migrant from northern China. In the early 4th century, Baekje was a major regional power and expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. As a result, it was in frequent battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies along the border.
The decline of Silla in the 8th and early 9th centuries enabled powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He was the ruler of a large portion of the present-day Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of 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 and later joined Baekje into Goryeo and acted as a peaceful successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the central government system. This was the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was later controlled 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.