Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. However, it is more stable than one would expect.
The country is searching for a new development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend forming.
Origins
During prehistoric times the ancestors of modern Koreans lived by hunting and gathering wild food. Then around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops such as millet and beans. They also raised livestock, and even made furs. They created tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also developed an industry of metalworking, making bronze tools and later iron ones. They traded with other states and introduced cedon papermaking block printing art styles, and written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this time the people of Buyeo were incorporated into Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure in which a monarch and top officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the majority of the population was peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to serve in the army or construct fortifications.
At the close of this period, the state of Baekje was founded by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. The new kingdom expanded to the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the area. Baekje included elements of Confucian thinking into its state 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 they must be respected and obeyed by all, including their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a country which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE, gave 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 led to an explosion in the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and the movable metal type were also refined. In 1145 CE, the Samguk Sagi, or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was recorded for the first time.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence of human settlements is evident in the form graves lined with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens and constructed from single large stones are prevalent throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized in the first half of 1st millennium BCE. After that, the peninsula was ruled by a variety of states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo and Silla. The northern part of the peninsula was occupied for a period by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not believe to be a real Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje, the most powerful of these states was diminished by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE) and was left with only its southern regions in Manchuria, and its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy, prospered 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 phase, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters the post-crisis period, its development paradigm appears to be changing. People who are shocked by the huge cost of the old system are urging a thorough program of liberalization in capital as well as labor and product markets. On the other hand, people who support the old system try to protect it by promoting nationalist sentiments, and by inflating fears about potential job loss.
The academic and policy analysts remain sharply divided on the extent to the extent that these two trends are driving Koreas development towards an economic model that is radically different from the one of governance. This article examines the five phases of Korea's evolution in terms of its political development: democratic democracies that are not liberal (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). This article also identifies some important factors that appear to be influencing these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have had success in promoting their beliefs to this group. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that nearly a third of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there wasn't enough evidence from science to support the theory 39% of respondents said that the theory contradicted their religion and 17% claimed it was difficult to comprehend. The level of doubt is comparable to that of the United States where a similar number do not believe that humans evolved from earlier species of life.
In the past of the anti-evolution movements in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading them to Christ. A significant increase in interest in creation science began in 1980, with an all-day seminar that was held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the main speakers. This event attracted a huge number of church leaders, and scientists.
The success of this event resulted in the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The inaugural meeting was widely reported in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and received wide attention.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, which reported on its activities and published articles about the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR, as well as a few books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures across the nation in universities and churches.
A KACR success was witnessed at the KAIST University in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were interested in creationism, they raised money and got support to build a small creationist museum on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine, CREATION, which covers topics in creation science. It has also sponsored a series of talks by ICR staff. It also has an organization of local branch offices that give talks and seminars to children and other 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 lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced by miniskirts and other foreign fashion elements. Similar to the way traditional Korean music styles were replaced by contemporary jazz and rock and roll. At this time the samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, became popular with the general public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and other musical instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new paradigm of development. The biggest challenge facing the new regime is to find an equilibrium between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also requires a change in the incentives monitoring and discipline schemes that have created the pre-crisis system. These issues are addressed 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 migrants from northern China. In the 4th century, in the early part of, Baekje was a major regional power and expanded its territory as far as Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the 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 enabled strong local factions to emerge. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He was the ruler of a large portion of the present-day Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. click through the up coming website became an adversary to Goguryeo.
The rule of his was, however, 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 alternative state. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized ruling system. This marked the end to the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was later ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly developed into powerful states on the peninsula as well as in Manchuria.