Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. It's still better than expected.
The country is looking for a new way of developing. A Confucian culture that emphasizes respect for ancestors and gendered family relations continues to influence the society. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend emerging.
Origins
In the prehistoric era, the ancestors to modern Koreans were able to survive by hunting and gathering wild foods. Then around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock, and even made furs. They created tribal states in Manchuria, and then on the Korean peninsula. They also created a metallurgy industry, producing iron tools and bronze. They traded with other states and introduced celadon papermaking block printing art styles, as well as written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. At this time the inhabitants of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy where the monarch and other senior officials came from the aristocracy of the land, whereas the majority of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these people and sometimes even forced them to join the army or construct fortifications.
Onjo Prince Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo, founded the state of Baekje towards the end of the time. The new kingdom grew into the southwest region of the peninsula, and clashed against the Goguryeo commanderies and China's in the region. Baekje adopted Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under the guise filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They must be obeyed by everyone and respected by their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a nation that was ruled from 918 to 1392 CE in the year 1392 CE, introduced to the world the Hangul Alphabet based on the shapes that were created by the mouth when pronouncing. This dramatically improved the communication between people and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also refined. In 1145 CE, the Samguk Sagi, or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was the first to be recorded.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times until. Evolution KR of human settlements can be seen in the form cist graves paved with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens and built from single large stones are prevalent throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first state to be recognized during the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. The peninsula was ruled by various states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCfrom 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. The northern part of the peninsula was for a while occupied by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not believe to be a real Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states arose in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje is the most powerful of these states, was diminished by the fall of Goguryeo (676 CE) leaving only its southern territories in Manchuria and the its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo, and the Gaya confederacy, prospered for a short period of time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to collaborate in order to expand their territories. In the end, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered the other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase, its development paradigm appears to be changing. Those who are appalled by the huge cost of the old system are urging an extensive program of liberalization in capital as well as labor and product markets. On the other hand the people who support the old system try to protect it by promoting nationalist sentiments, and by stoking fears of job loss.
Analysts and academics are divided on the extent to which Korea's development is being driven by these two trends. This article examines the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development: illiberal democracies (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also highlights the most important factors that are the driving force behind these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their views among this population. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost a third of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of the respondents, 41% stated that there was not enough evidence from science to support the theory 39% claimed that the theory did not align with their beliefs; and 17% said it was difficult to understand. 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 earlier species of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on educating students and the introduction of Christ to them. An increase in interest in creation science came in the year 1980, when there was 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 keynote speakers. This event attracted a huge number of church leaders and scientists.
The success of this event led to the establishment of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The inauguration event was widely reported in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and received wide attention.
KACR began publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In it, the organization published its own activities and published articles about scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR and some books on the subject that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the nation in universities and churches.
One instance of an KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, enough students were fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised the money and support needed to build a small museum on campus featuring 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 sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also created a network of local branch offices that host talks and seminars to children and other community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the late 19th century and beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced by miniskirts, and other foreign fashion elements. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern rock and roll and jazz. At this time the famous samulnori or masked dance-dramas, became loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers as well as other musical instruments.
Korea's new model of development is being created in the wake of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is to strike the right balance between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also requires altering incentives, monitoring, or disciplining systems that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Established by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established jointly by people living along the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas and people from northern China. Baekje, one of the major regional powers in the 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 commanders at the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the development of powerful local factions. Gungye was a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. He also was in control of a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
However his rule was not long-lasting. After Gungye's defeat, he was overthrown by an influential 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 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 became powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.