Evolution Korea
The democratic system in South Korea is prone to populist tendencies. It's still better than expected.
The country is searching for an entirely new model of development. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for ancestors as well as gendered family relations continues to influence the way we live. There are indications of a secularist cultural trend that is emerging.
Origins
In prehistoric times, the ancestors of modern Koreans lived on hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate millet and beans as well as other crops. They also raised livestock and made furs. These people formed tribal states in succession in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created a metalworking industry, producing bronze tools, and later iron ones. They traded with other states and introduced celadon, paper making, block printing art styles, and writing to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this time the people of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure with a monarch and high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy, while the majority of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to join the army or to build fortifications.
Onjo the prince of Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo, founded the state of Baekje towards the end of the time. The new kingdom expanded its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the region. Baekje took on Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety a tenet. Under the cover of filiopiety fathers were responsible to their families. They must be obedient to everyone and respected by their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who would rule from 918 until 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet built on the patterns created by the mouth during pronunciation. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase in the writing of Buddhist text. In addition, movable metal type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was improved. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi, or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was first recorded.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements can be found in the form cist graves that were lined with stone, and decorated with precious items such as amazonite jewelry that were buried with the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, made of huge single stones, are prevalent throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first state to be recognized in the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. After that, the peninsula was ruled by several states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCfrom 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. In addition, the northern region of the peninsula was ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which the majority of historians do not believe to be a proper Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Among them, Baekje was the most powerful of them all, but its dynasty ended by the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE, leaving it with its southern territories 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 began to collaborate in order to expand their territories. In the end, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase its development model appears to be changing. People who are shocked by the immense cost of the old system advocate a thorough program of liberalization of capital as well as labor and product markets. On the other hand, champions of the old system seek to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and exaggerating fears of job loss.
Academics and analysts are divided about the extent to which Korea's evolution is influenced by these two trends. This article analyzes the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development including democratic democracies that are not liberal (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and democratic participation (2002). This article also highlights significant factors that may be shaping these processes.
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 in 2009 revealed that nearly a third of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% stated that there was no scientific evidence to support the theory 39% of respondents believed it was contrary to their religious beliefs, and 17 percent said they did not understand it. This level of disbelief is similar to that of the United States where a similar percentage of people do not believe that humans evolved from earlier types of life.
In the past of the anti-evolutionist movement in Korea was focused on educating college students and bringing them to Christ. In 1980 an all-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 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 31, 1981. The inaugural meeting was widely reported in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo, and it was well-received by the public.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter called CREATION, in which it covered its activities and published articles about scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated slides and film strips from ICR and also some books on creationism that were published outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures across the country in churches and universities.
One example of a KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at the KAIST university in Seoul were so fascinated by creationism that they raised money and secured funding to construct an enlightened museum on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, that covers topics related to creation science, and it has sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branch offices that host talks and seminars to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced with miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & 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 instruments.
visit this site has formed Korea's new development paradigm. The main challenge for the new regime is the balance between state-led economic policies and market-oriented ones. It also involves rethinking the incentives and monitoring schemes that have created the system before the crisis. These issues are covered in Chapters 3 & 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo the prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo was established by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other regions and also by a migrant from northern China. Baekje was a major regional power in the early 4th century extended its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do south. It was therefore in constant conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanders on the border.
The fall of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries enabled 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. Later, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
His rule was however short-lived. After Gungye's defeat, he was overthrown by an influential local leader, Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935. Later Baekje was peacefully incorporated into Goryeo as a successor state. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central rule system. This was the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was later under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually became powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.