Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist impulses. However, it's healthier than one would expect.
The country is seeking an entirely new model of development. A Confucian culture that emphasizes respect for ancestors and gendered family relations continues to influence the way we live. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend that is emerging.
Origins
During prehistoric times the ancestors of the modern Koreans lived by hunting and gathering wild food. Then around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock, and made furs. These people formed tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metallurgy, which produced bronze and later iron tools. They traded with other countries and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan and also styles of art and a written language and paper making.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. In this period the inhabitants of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure that included a monarch as well as top officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy, while the rest of the population were peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to join the army or to build 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 grew into the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the region. Baekje incorporated aspects of Confucian thinking into its state belief system and made the male-centric concept of filiopiety as a law in 1390 CE. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families and they must be revered and obeyed by all, including their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, who ruled from 918 until 1392 CE introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth during pronunciation. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. 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.
Evolution 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 valuable items like amazonite jewelry that were buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, made of enormous single stones, are also common throughout the country.
In the first half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognizable political state. The peninsula was then ruled by a number of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) including Baekje and Goguryeo. Moreover, the northern region of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which many historians don't consider to be a legitimate Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. In all of them, Baekje was the most powerful state, but its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE leaving the southern provinces of Manchuria and the western region surrounding the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy prospered for a period of time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territories. In the end, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered all other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase its development model appears to be changing. The people who are awed by the costs of the old systems support a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and markets for products. On the other hand, champions of the old system seek to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and generating fear over potential job losses.
Academics and analysts are divided over the extent to which Korea's growth is influenced by these two trends. This article reviews developments to date by analyzing five phases of Korea's political evolution: democratic illiberalism (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72), authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001), and democratic participation (2002 to present). This article also highlights key factors that seem to influence these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their views among this group. A survey from 2009 showed that almost one-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% claimed that it did not align with their religious beliefs, and 17 percent said they did not understand it. This level of disbelief is similar to the United States where a similar number do not believe that humans evolved from lesser advanced types of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea was primarily focused on teaching students and the introduction of Christ to them. An increase in interest in creation science began in 1980, with the inauguration of a four-day seminar during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the keynote speakers. This event was attended by an impressive crowd of scientists, professors, and church leaders.
The success of this event resulted in the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The event was extensively covered in the national media, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In CREATION, the organization presented its own work and published articles about scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several films and slides from ICR, as well as several books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the country in churches and universities.
One example of one KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, enough students were fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised the funds 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, that covers topics related to creation science, and it has hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also organized a network of local branches that hold seminars and present talks to schoolchildren and community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter half of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements imported from abroad. Similar to the way traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern rock and roll and jazz. In 에볼루션 바카라 체험 , the famous samulnori or masked dancing-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drummers as well as other instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new model 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 strategies that have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo the prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo, was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other areas, as well as migrants from northern China. Baekje, one of the major regional powers in the 4th century extended its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. This meant that it was constantly in conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders on the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the rise of powerful local factions. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He ruled a portion of today's Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He was a rival to Goguryeo.
His rule was however only for a short time. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla and later joined Baekje into Goryeo without a fight as his successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centrally-run system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point on the Korean peninsula was controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly grew into powerful states on the peninsula as well as in Manchuria.