Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is susceptible to populist impulses. It's still better than we had hoped for.
The country is seeking a new paradigm of development. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for ancestors as well as gendered 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. In the tens of thousands of years after they began to cultivate crops such as millet and beans. They also raised livestock and created furs. They formed tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also created an industry of metalworking, making bronze tools and later iron ones. They also traded with other countries and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan along with art styles as well as a written language and papermaking.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this time, the people of Buyeo were incorporated into Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure in which a monarch and senior officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy, while 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.
By the end of the period the state of Baekje was established by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. The new kingdom grew its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the area. Baekje incorporated aspects of Confucian beliefs into its official beliefs and made the male-centric filiopiety idea as a law in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They must be obeyed by all and admired by even 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 patterns created by the mouth when pronouncing. This greatly improved communication between people, and led to an explosion in the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also improved. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was first recorded.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times and early evidence of human settlements are evident in the form of graves lined with stones, with precious items such as amazonite jewellery being buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, and made of large stones in a single piece, are prevalent throughout the country.
In the first part 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. The northern part of the peninsula was occupied for a period by the Balhae Kingdom which historians do not believe to be a true Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states arose in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje was the most powerful of these states was diminished by the collapse of Goguryeo (676 CE) and was left with only its southern territories in Manchuria and the its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo, and the Gaya confederacy, thrived for a short period of time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territory. In the end, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated all other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase the way it develops appears to be in flux. Those who are appalled by the immense cost of the old system are urging a thorough program of liberalization of capital as well as labor and product markets. On the other hand the supporters of the old system seek to preserve it through nationalist sentiments and by stoking fears of job losses.
Academics and analysts are divided on the extent to which Korea's evolution is influenced by these two trends. This article focuses on the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development that include illiberal democracies (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). This article also highlights important factors that appear to be influencing these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made strides in promoting their beliefs to this group. A survey conducted in 2009 found that nearly a third of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there was not enough evidence from science to support the theory; 39% said the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs and 17% claimed it was difficult to understand. This level of doubt is similar to that in the United States, where a similar number of people are not convinced that humans evolved from earlier species of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea was focused on the education of students and the introduction of Christ to them. In 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 keynote speakers. This event drew an impressive crowd of scientists, professors and church leaders.
The success of this event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st 1981. The inauguration meeting was widely covered in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and was well-received by the public.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, in which it covered its activities and published articles about scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR as well as a few books on the subject of creationism, which were published outside of Korea. KACR members lectured throughout the nation in universities and churches.
A KACR success was observed at the KAIST University in Seoul. There, there were enough students fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised enough money and support to construct an on-campus museum 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 creation science. It has also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has an organization of local branch offices that offer talks and seminars to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt an increasingly Westernized lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced by miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements from abroad. Similarly, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by contemporary jazz and rock and roll. During this period the famous samulnori, also known as masked dancing-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and various types of musical instruments.
Korea's new model of development is being developed in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The primary challenge for the new regime is to strike the right balance between market-oriented and state-led economic policies. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring, or disciplining systems that have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed 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 regions, as well as people 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 commanderies along the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries allowed powerful local factions to rise. 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 today's Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Then, 에볼루션 바카라 무료체험 moved the capital to Wansanju. He became an adversary to Goguryeo.
His rule was however only for a short time. After his defeat, Gungye was replaced 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 rule system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From that point on the Korean peninsula was controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly grew into powerful states on the peninsula, and in Manchuria.