Evolution Korea: What Nobody Is Discussing
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Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. However, it's healthier than one would expect.
The country is seeking a new paradigm of development. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for the ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. But there are signs that a secularist culture is beginning to emerge.
Origins
In prehistoric times, the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. About 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans, and other crops. They also raised livestock and produced furs. They also established tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created a metallurgy industry, producing bronze and later iron tools. They also traded with other countries and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan and also styles of art, a written language, and papermaking.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. In this time, the inhabitants of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical where the monarch and other senior officials were members of the aristocracy of the land, while the rest of the population was peasants. The state extracted taxes from the citizens and sometimes required them to fight in the army or work on projects for the government like building fortifications.
At the close 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 expanded to the southwest part of the peninsula, and clashed with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the region. Baekje took on Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE, and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety a tenet. Under the guise filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They had to be obeyed by everyone and respected even by their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who would rule from 918 until 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet that was based on the shapes formed by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and movable type were also refined. In 1145 CE, the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was the first to be recorded.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence for human settlements is evident in the form of graves lined with stones, with precious goods such as amazonite jewellery being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, and made of single large stones, are prevalent 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 ruled by a number 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 real Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, also known as the Several States Period. In all of them, Baekje was the most powerful state however, its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated 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 prospered for a period of time.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to work together to expand their territories. Silla, with the help website of the Chinese, eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.
As Korea is entering a post-crisis period the way it develops appears to be in flux. Those who are horrified by the enormous cost of the old system advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand, those who support the old system are seeking to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and inflating fears of job loss.
The academic and policy analysts remain in a tense debate about the extent to these two trends are driving Koreas evolution towards an entirely new model of economic governance. This article examines the five phases of Korea's development in terms of its political development including democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). This article also identifies key factors that appear to be shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made progress in promoting their views to this group. A 2009 survey revealed that almost three-quarters of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those who voted, 41% stated that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory 39% said it contradicted their religious beliefs, and 17 percent said they didn't comprehend it. This level of disbelief approaches that in the United States, where a majority of people do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced types of life.
In the past, the majority of the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on educating college students and in 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 Gish of ICR as the main speakers. The event attracted an impressive crowd of scientists, professors, and church leaders.
The success of the event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st in 1980. The event was extensively covered in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, which covered its activities and also published articles on scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several film strips and slides from ICR as well as some books on creationism that were published outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the nation in universities and churches.
One example of one KACR success story was at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were interested in creationism, they raised funds and received funding to construct an enlightened museum on campus.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics in the creation science. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established a network of local branches that hold seminars and provide talks to children in schools and other community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the late nineteenth century and the early 20th century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized style of life. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced by miniskirts, and other foreign fashion elements. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. During this time the samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, became popular with the general public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drums and other instruments of music.
Korea's new development model is being created in the wake of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is to find a balance between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also involves rethinking the incentives, monitoring, and disciplining schemes that have shaped the pre-crisis system. These issues are examined in Chapters 3 and 4.
Founded 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 areas, and immigrants from northern China. Baekje was an important regional power in the early 4th Century extended its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. It was therefore in constant conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanderies on the border.
The fall of Silla in the 8th and early 9th centuries enabled powerful local factions to emerge. Gungye an eminent noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. It also was in control of a portion of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
However the rule of his was 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 incorporated peacefully into Goryeo as an alternative state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the central government system. This marked the closing of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point the Korean peninsula was under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla gradually grew into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.