Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist impulses. It's still better than expected.
The country is searching for a new way of developing. A Confucian culture that values respect for ancestors as well as gendered family relations continues influence society. There are signs that a secular culture is gaining ground.
Origins
In the prehistoric era the ancestors of 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 created furs. These people formed tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also developed a metallurgy business, making bronze and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced celadon paper making block printing, art styles and a written language to Japan.
Full Content was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state embraced Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this time the inhabitants of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society that included a monarch as well as high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the rest of the population were peasants. The state imposed taxes on these citizens, and sometimes 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 who was the founder of Goguryeo, founded the state of Baekje at the close of the period. The new kingdom expanded to the southwest region of the peninsula, and was at war against the Goguryeo commanderies and China's in the region. Baekje introduced elements of Confucian beliefs into its official beliefs and made the male-centric concept of filiopiety an official doctrine in 1390 CE. Under the guise 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 country which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet, based on the patterns created by the mouth while pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metal type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was refined. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence of human settlements are evident in the form stone-lined cist graves with precious goods like amazonite jewellery being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, made of huge single stones, are prevalent throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized during the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. The peninsula was later ruled by a number of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) which included Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern region of the peninsula was for a while occupied by the Balhae Kingdom that historians do consider to be a genuine Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje is the most powerful of these states was weakened by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE), leaving it with only its southern territories in Manchuria, and its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo, and the Gaya confederacy, thrived for a time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to work together in order to expand their territory. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters the post-crisis period the development paradigm of the country is in flux. The people who are affronted by the immense cost of the old system are urging the need for a comprehensive program of liberalization in capital as well as labor markets. On the other hand, supporters of the old system seek to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, as well as 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 development in terms of its political development including democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60) democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also highlights important factors that appear to be influencing these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made progress in promoting their beliefs to this segment. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost one-third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there was not enough scientific evidence to support evolution 39% claimed that the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs and 17% claimed it was difficult to understand. The level of doubt is similar to that of 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 focused primarily on educating students and in bringing Christ to them. A significant increase in interest in creation science came in the year 1980, when there was a four-day seminar held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which 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 resulted in the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31 1981. The meeting was covered extensively in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In CREATION, the organization published its own activities and published articles about scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of film strips and slides from ICR and also some books on creationism which were published outside of Korea. KACR members also gave talks in universities and churches across the country.
One example of one KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, enough students were interested in the idea of creationism that they raised enough money and support to construct a small museum on campus with creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
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 hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established branches in local offices that give seminars and talks to schoolchildren and community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the late 19th century and the beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements imported from overseas. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. During this time the samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, became loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers as well as other instruments.
Korea's new model of development is being developed in the wake of the economic crisis. The primary challenge for the new regime is to find a balance between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also requires a change in the incentives monitoring and discipline strategies that have been a part of the pre-crisis system. These issues are examined in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo the prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo, was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other regions, as well as migrants from northern China. In the 4th century, in the early part of, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. In the process, it entered into frequent battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders across the border.
The fall of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries allowed powerful local factions to emerge. 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.
His rule was however short-lived. After Gungye's defeat, he was overthrown by a powerful 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 government system. This was the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was later under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually became powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.