Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist inclinations. Nonetheless, it is healthier than what one might expect.
The country is in search of an innovative development paradigm. A Confucian culture that emphasizes respect for ancestors as well as gendered family relationships continues to influence the way we live. There are indications of a secularist culture trend emerging.
Origins
In the prehistoric era the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock and also made furs. These people formed tribal states in succession in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metallurgy business, making bronze and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced celadon, paper making, block printing art styles, as well as writing to Japan.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. During this period 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, while the rest of its population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these people, and sometimes forced them to join the army or to build 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 its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the area. Baekje took on Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE, and made the male-centered concept of filiopiety a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They must be obeyed by all and admired by even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, a nation that was ruled from 918 to 1392 CE in the year 1392 CE, introduced to the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the patterns created by the mouth while pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and the movable metal type were also improved. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times and early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form graves lined with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, made of huge single stones, are common throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized during the first half of 1st millennium BCE. After that, the peninsula was ruled by several states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla. The northern region of the peninsula was occupied for a time by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not consider to be a genuine Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Among them, Baekje was the most powerful of them all however, its dynasty ended with the fall of Goguryeo 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 flourished for a short time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to collaborate to expand their territory. Silla with the aid of the Chinese, eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.
As Korea is entering a post-crisis period the way it develops appears to be in flux. Those who are horrified by the cost of the old systems advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and product markets. On the other hand supporters of the old system seek to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and generating fear over potential job losses.
Academics and analysts are divided about the extent to which Korea's evolution is being driven by these two trends. This article analyzes the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development: democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60) democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). This article also identifies key elements that are shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made significant progress in promoting their views to this group. 에볼루션 게이밍 from 2009 showed that nearly a third of respondents were against 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% claimed it was difficult to understand. This level of disbelief is comparable to that in the United States, where a majority of people are not convinced that humans evolved from earlier types of life.
In the past, most of the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading them to Christ. An increase in interest in creation science came in 1980, with a four-day seminar held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. The event attracted an impressive crowd of scientists, professors 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 event was extensively covered in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In it, the group published its own activities and published articles about scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several films and slides from ICR and also some books on the subject that were published outside of Korea. KACR members also gave talks at universities and churches throughout the country.
One example of one KACR success story was at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, enough students were interested in creationism that they raised the funds and support needed to build an on-campus museum showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine, CREATION. This magazine covers topics in the creation science. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branches that conduct seminars and provide talks to schoolchildren and community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the late 19th century and into the early the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced by miniskirts and other fashion elements from abroad. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern rock and roll and jazz. During this period the samulnori, or the masked dance-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drums and other instruments of music.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new development paradigm. The main challenge for the new regime lies in the proper balance between state-led economic policies as well as market-based ones. It also involves altering incentives, monitoring, or discipline schemes that have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 and 4.
The Baekje was founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established in the middle of the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other regions, as well as people from northern China. In the early 4th century, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory as far as Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. It was therefore in constant conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders at the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries led to the development of powerful local factions. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He controlled a part of the present-day Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
However the rule of his was short-lived. After Gungye was defeated by a powerful local leader, Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935, Later Baekje was peacefully integrated into Goryeo as an heir state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the centralized ruling system. This marked the end to the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was then controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.