Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist inclinations. However, it's healthier than might be expected.
The country is seeking a new way of developing. A Confucian culture that values respect for the ancestors and gendered family relationships continues to influence the way we live. There are indications of a secularist culture trend emerging.
Origins
In prehistoric times, the ancestors to modern Koreans were capable of survival through hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans and other crops. They also raised livestock and made furs. They created tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other states and introduced cedon papermaking block printing, art styles and writing to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Chinese culture, including Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this time, the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy where the monarch and other senior officials were members of the land aristocracy, while the rest of its population was peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens and sometimes even required them to join the army or build fortifications.
Onjo the prince of Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo and the state of Baekje towards the end of the period. This new kingdom expanded its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the region. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety into a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They must be obeyed by everyone and respected by their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, who would rule from 918 until 1392 CE introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet built on the patterns created by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved communication and led to a rise in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metallic type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was refined. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements can be found in the form of graves paved with stone, and decorated with precious items such as amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, built from massive single stones, are widespread throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first state to be recognized during the first half of 1st millennium BCE. After that, the peninsula was ruled by various states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Additionally, the northern part of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which most historians do not believe to be a proper Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, also known as the Several States Period. Baekje was the most powerful of these states, was weakened by the collapse of Goguryeo (676 CE) leaving only its southern regions in Manchuria, and its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo, and the Gaya confederacy, prospered for a while.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms started to work together to expand their territories. Silla with the aid of the Chinese eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase the development paradigm of the country is in flux. The people who are affronted by the huge cost of the old system would prefer an extensive program of liberalization of capital, labor, and product markets. On the other hand champions of the old system are seeking to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and generating fear of job loss.
Analysts and academics are divided about the extent to which Korea's growth is influenced by these two trends. This article examines developments to date by analyzing five phases of the country's political evolution: the illiberal democratic period (1945-60) democratic authoritarianism (1961-72), authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and democratic participation (2002 to the present). This article also identifies the key factors that are the driving force behind these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made significant progress 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 에볼루션코리아 who voted, 41% said that there was insufficient evidence from science to support the theory 39% claimed that the theory did not align with their beliefs and 17% said it was difficult to grasp. The level of doubt is comparable to that of the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from earlier species 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 the interest in creation science occurred in the year 1980, following 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. This event attracted a large number of professors, church leaders, and scientists.
The event's success led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 of 1980. The meeting was covered extensively in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, which published its activities and published articles on scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated film strips and slides from ICR as well as some books on creationism that were already published outside of Korea. KACR members delivered lectures at universities and churches throughout the country.
One example of a KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, there were enough students fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised the money and support needed to build a small museum on campus showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, that covers topics related to creation science. It has also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branches, which hold seminars and give talks to school children and other community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the late 19th century and the beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts, as well as other foreign fashion elements. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. At this time, the famous samulnori, or masked dance dramas, were popular with the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers and other instruments of music.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new paradigm of development. The primary challenge for the new regime is to find an equilibrium between market-oriented and state-led economic policies. It also involves rethinking the incentives monitoring and discipline schemes that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed 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 migrant workers from northern China. Baekje was one of the major regional powers in the early 4th century expanded its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. In the process, it entered into frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies along the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the development of powerful local factions. Gungye was a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital and was in control of a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
However, his rule was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935, and then united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla Later, he incorporated Baekje into Goryeo peacefully as a successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the centrally-run system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From then on the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla gradually grew into powerful states on the peninsula as well as in Manchuria.