Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is susceptible to populist tendencies. However, it's healthier than might be expected.
The country is searching for a new development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are indications of a secularist cultural trend emerging.
Origins
In the prehistoric era the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by 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. These tribes formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also developed an industry of metallurgy, which produced bronze and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon paper making, block printing art styles, and written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this period the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical state where the monarch and senior officials were members of the land aristocracy, while the majority of the population were peasants. The state extracted taxes from the citizens and sometimes required them to serve in the army or participate in government projects such as building fortifications.
Onjo Prince Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo and the state of Baekje at the end of the time. This new kingdom expanded its territory into the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war with Goguryeo and China's commandos in the region. Baekje introduced elements of Confucian thought into its state beliefs and made the male-centric concept of filiopiety an official doctrine in 1390 CE. Under the guise filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They must be obeyed by all and respected even by their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who would rule from 918 until 1392 CE introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth during pronunciation. This significantly 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 improved. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi, or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was first recorded.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of graves lined with stone, with precious objects such as amazonite jewellery being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, built from enormous single stones, are prevalent throughout the country.
In the first second half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognisable political state. The peninsula was ruled by several states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCbetween 635 and 57 BC CE) including Baekje Goguryeo and Silla. The northern portion of the peninsula was occupied for a period by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not believe to be a real Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states arose in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Among them, Baekje was the most powerful but its dynasty dissolved by the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE and left the southern provinces of Manchuria and the western region surrounding the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy flourished for a short time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to collaborate to expand their territorial holdings. Silla with the help of the Chinese, eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters the post-crisis era its development model appears to be in flux. The people who are affronted by the huge cost of the old system advocate a thorough program of liberalization in capital as well as labor and product markets. On the other hand, supporters of the old system seek to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and generating fear over potential job losses.
The academic and policy analysts remain in a tense debate about the extent to which these two trends are driving Koreas evolution towards an economic model that is radically different from the one of governance. This article examines the five phases of Korea's development in terms of its political development: democratic democracies that are not liberal (1945-60) democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877) democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). This article also identifies key elements that are shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made strides in promoting their beliefs to this group. A 2009 survey showed that almost one-third of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of the respondents, 41% stated that there wasn't enough 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 number do not believe that humans evolved from lesser advanced forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on educating students and bringing Christ to them. An increase in interest in creation science came in 1980, with a four-day seminar held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the keynote speakers. This event drew an audience of professors, scientists, and church leaders.
The success of the event led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 in 1980. The inaugural meeting was widely covered in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also attracted a lot of attention.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter called CREATION, which published its activities and published articles on scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR and several books on creationism that were published outside of Korea. KACR members delivered lectures in universities and churches across the country.
One example of a KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at the KAIST university in Seoul were so interested in creationism, they raised money and secured funding to construct an enlightened museum on campus.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. This magazine covers topics that pertain to the science of creation. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It has also established a network of local branches that conduct seminars and present talks to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter half of the nineteenth century and 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 overseas. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern jazz and rock and roll. During this time the famous samulnori or masked dance-dramas, were loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed with the accompaniment of shaman drums and various musical instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new model of development. The primary challenge facing the new regime is to find the right balance between state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring or discipline schemes that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje was 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 migrant workers from northern China. In the early 4th century, Baekje was a major regional power and expanded its territory as far as Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. This meant that it was constantly in conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanders at the border.
The fall of Silla in the 8th and early 9th centuries saw powerful local factions to rise. Gungye, a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. He also was in control of a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
However the rule of his was short-lived. After Gungye was defeated by a powerful local leader, Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935, Later Baekje was peacefully integrated into Goryeo as a successor state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centralized ruling system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was later controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla gradually grew into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.