Evolution Korea
The democratic system in South Korea is prone to populist tendencies. However, it's healthier than might be expected.
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 influence the society. There are signs that a secular culture is beginning to emerge.
Origins
In prehistoric times the ancestors of the modern Koreans lived by 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 tribes formed tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools and bronze. They traded with other states and introduced cedon papermaking, block printing art styles, and a written language to Japan.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon came into existence in the southern part of the peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. During visit , the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy where the monarch and other senior officials were from the aristocracy of the land, whereas the rest of its population were peasants. The state extracted taxes from these citizens, and often required them to serve in the army or participate in projects for the government like building fortifications.
Onjo the prince of Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong the founder of Goguryeo established the state of Baekje towards the end of the period. This new kingdom expanded into the southwest of the peninsula, and fought with China's commandos and Goguryeo's 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 tenet. In the name of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families, and had to be revered and obeyed by all people, even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, a nation that ruled from 918 until 1392 CE, gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the patterns created by the mouth while pronouncing. This greatly improved the communication between people and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. 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 recorded for the first time.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence for human settlements is evident in the form of stone-lined cist graves with precious items such as amazonite jewellery being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens and built from single large stones are prevalent throughout the country.
In the first half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. The peninsula was later controlled by 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 ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which many historians do not believe to be a proper Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Of them, Baekje was the most powerful of them all, but its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE, leaving it with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around the 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 territories. In the final phase, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase the development paradigm of the country appears to be in flux. Those who are horrified by the enormous cost 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 attempt to protect it by promoting nationalist sentiments, and by inflating fears about potential job loss.
Analysts and academics are divided over the extent to which Korea's evolution is being driven by these two trends. This article focuses on 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 key elements that are driving these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made significant progress in promoting their beliefs to this segment. A 2009 survey revealed that nearly a third of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there wasn't enough evidence from science to support the theory 39% claimed that 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 number of people do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, most of the anti-evolution movements in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading them to Christ. A significant rise in the interest in creation science occurred in the year 1980, following the inauguration of a four-day seminar during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. This event attracted a large number of professors, church leaders, and scientists.
The success of the event led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 in 1980. The event was widely covered in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter called CREATION, where it covered its activities and published articles on scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR as well as some books on creationism which were already published outside of Korea. KACR members lectured throughout the country in churches and universities.
A KACR success was witnessed at KAIST University in Seoul. There, there were enough students interested in creationism that they raised enough money and support to construct an on-campus museum showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. The magazine covers subjects in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It has also created an organization of local branch offices that host talks and seminars to children and community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter half 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 and other style elements imported from abroad. Similarly, traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern jazz and rock and roll. At this time the famous samulnori or masked dance-dramas, were popular with the general public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers and other instruments.
Korea's new development model is being created in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is the balance between state-led economic policies as well as market-oriented ones. It also involves changing incentives, monitoring or disciplining schemes which have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are examined 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 regions as well as migrant workers from northern China. Baekje was one of the major regional powers in the 4th century expanded its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. As a result, it was in frequent battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders across the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries allowed strong 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 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. After Gungye was defeated by an influential local leader, Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935, Later Baekje was incorporated peacefully into Goryeo as an heir state. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized ruling system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was then controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly developed into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.