Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist inclinations. It is still healthier than we had hoped for.
The country is seeking a new way of developing. A Confucian culture that emphasizes respect for ancestors and gendered family relations continues to influence the way we live. There are indications of a secularist cultural trend that is emerging.
에볼루션코리아
In prehistoric times the ancestors of today's Koreans were capable of surviving by hunting and gathering wild food. In the tens of thousands of years after, they began to grow crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock and created furs. These tribes formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metallurgy industry, producing bronze and later iron tools. They traded with other nations and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan along with styles of art, a written language, and paper making.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon came into existence in the southern part of the peninsula. This state embraced Chinese culture which included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this period the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society in which a monarch and top officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy, while the rest of the population was peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to join the army or construct 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 grew into the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the region. Baekje incorporated aspects of Confucian thinking into its state beliefs and made the male-centric concept of filiopiety as a law in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families, and had to be revered and obeyed by all, including their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a nation that ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet, based on the shapes created by the mouth when it pronounces. This dramatically improved communication between people, and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. Additionally, movable metallic type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was refined. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was first recorded.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times. Early evidence for human settlements is evident in the form of graves lined with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens and constructed of single large stones, are widespread throughout the country.
In the first part of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognizable political state. The peninsula was then controlled by a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) which included Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern region of the peninsula was occupied for a period by the Balhae Kingdom which historians do not consider to be a genuine Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states arose in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Of them, Baekje was the most powerful state however, its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE, leaving the southern provinces of Manchuria and the western region around the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy thrived for some time.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms started to cooperate to expand their territories. Silla with the help of the Chinese eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters the post-crisis era the development paradigm of the country appears to be in flux. People who are shocked by the costs of the old systems are in favor of a comprehensive plan for liberalization of labor, capital and product markets. On the other hand, champions of the old system seek to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and generating fear about job losses.
Academics and analysts are divided about the extent to which Korea's development is influenced by these two trends. This article examines the latest developments by analyzing five phases of Korea's political development: 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 appear to be the driving force behind these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their beliefs to this group. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost one third of respondents do not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those, 41% said that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% said it contradicted their religious beliefs, and 17 percent said they did not know what it meant. This level of disbelief is comparable to that of the United States, where a majority of people are not convinced that humans evolved from earlier forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea was primarily focused on the education of students and in bringing 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 Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. The event was attended by a large number of professors, church leaders and scientists.
The success of the event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 of 1980. The inaugural event was widely reported in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo, and it attracted a lot of attention.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, in which it reported on its activities and also published articles on scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR, as well as some books on the subject that were already in print outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures in churches and universities throughout the country.
A KACR success was witnessed at KAIST University in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were fascinated by creationism that they raised funds and received funding to construct a small creationist museum on campus.
In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. The magazine covers subjects in the creation science. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branches that conduct seminars and give talks to school children and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other style elements from overseas. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. During this time, the famous samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, became popular with the public. These dramatic pieces were performed with the accompaniment of shaman drums and various types of musical instruments.
Korea's new development model is being formed in the wake of the economic crisis. The primary challenge facing the new regime is to find the right balance between the state-led economic policies and market-oriented ones. It also requires a change in the incentives monitoring and discipline policies that been a part of the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje was founded by Onjo Prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other areas as well as migrant workers from northern China. Baekje, an important regional power in the early 4th Century extended its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. In the process, it entered into frequent battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders across the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries allowed powerful local factions to rise. Gungye was a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital and was in control of a portion of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He became a rival 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 peacefully integrated into Goryeo as an alternative state. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized ruling system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was then 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.