Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is prone to populist tendencies. It's still better than we had hoped for.
The country is looking for an entirely new model of development. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for the ancestors and gendered family relationships continues to influence the way we live. However, there are signs that a secular culture is beginning to emerge.
Origins
In prehistoric times the ancestors of the modern Koreans lived on 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. They formed tribal states in Manchuria, and then on the Korean peninsula. They also created an industry for metalworking, which produced bronze tools and later iron ones. They also traded with other countries and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan, as well as styles of art as well as a written language and paper making.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. At this time, the people of Buyeo were part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical state where the monarch and other senior officials were members of the aristocracy of the land, while the rest of the population was peasants. The state imposed taxes on these citizens, and often required them to fight in the army or take part in government projects such as building fortifications.
At the close 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 expanded to the southwest part of the peninsula, and was at war with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the area. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas in 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 to their families. They were expected to be obeyed by all and respected even by their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a nation that ruled from 918 until 1392 CE in the year 1392 CE, introduced to the world the Hangul Alphabet based on the shapes created by the mouth when pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also improved. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was the first to be recorded.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times. Early evidence of human settlements is visible in the form of graves lined with stones, with precious items like amazonite jewellery being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens and built of single large stones, are common in the country.
In the first half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognisable political state. 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. In addition, the northern region of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which the majority of historians do not believe to be a valid Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Among them, Baekje was the most powerful state, but its dynasty ended by the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE and left the southern provinces of Manchuria and the western region around the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy prospered for a period of time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to collaborate in order to expand their territory. Silla with the help 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 changing. People who are shocked by the huge cost of the old systems support a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and markets for products. On the other hand, champions of the old system are seeking to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and inflating fears over potential job losses.
Analysts and academics are divided about the extent to which Korea's evolution is being driven by these two trends. This article analyzes the five phases of Korea's development 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 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their beliefs to this group. A survey from 2009 showed that almost one-third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of the respondents, 41% stated that there was not enough scientific evidence to support evolution 39% of respondents said that the theory did not align with their beliefs and 17% claimed it was difficult to comprehend. 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 earlier forms of life.
In the past, most of the anti-evolutionist movement in Korea was focused on educating college students and bringing them to Christ. In 1980 the year 1980, a four-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the main speakers. 에볼루션 코리아 was attended by an impressive crowd of scientists, professors and church leaders.
The success of this event led to the establishment of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31, 1981. The event was extensively covered in the national media, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In it, the group reported on its own activities and published articles on scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR and also some books on the subject that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the country in churches and universities.
One instance of an KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, enough students were interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the funds and support needed to build a small museum on campus with creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine called CREATION. The magazine covers subjects in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It has also established an organization of local branch offices that host seminars and talks to schoolchildren and community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter half of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements from abroad. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern rock and roll and jazz. In the period of this transition the samulnori, or the masked dance-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums as well as various musical instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new development paradigm. The main challenge for the new regime is to find a balance between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also involves rethinking the incentives and monitoring strategies that have created the system before the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 & 4.
The Baekje was founded 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 was a major regional power in the early 4th Century expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do 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 resulted in 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 today's Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
However his rule was not long-lasting. 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 a successor state. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized government system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was later controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly developed into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.