Evolution Korea

The democratic system in South Korea is vulnerable to populist impulses. Nonetheless, it is healthier than what one might expect.

The country is in search of an alternative development model. A Confucian culture that emphasizes respect for the ancestors and gendered family relations continues influence the society. There are talks about it of a secularist culture trend forming.

Origins

In the prehistoric era the ancestors of the today's Koreans were capable of surviving by hunting and gathering wild foods. Around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate millet, beans and other crops. They also raised livestock and made furs. They established tribal states in Manchuria, and then on the Korean peninsula. They also created a metalworking industry, producing bronze tools and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced cedon paper making block printing art styles, and a written language to Japan.

In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was founded in the southern region of the peninsula. The state adopted Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. At this time the inhabitants of Buyeo were part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical where the monarch and 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 often required them to join the army or take part in projects of the government, like building fortifications.

Onjo Prince Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong the founder of Goguryeo established the state of Baekje towards the end of the time. The new kingdom grew into the southwest part of the peninsula, and was at war against the Goguryeo commanderies and China's in the region. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas into its state belief system in 1390 CE and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were responsible for their families, and had to be obeyed and respected by all people, even their grandchildren and children.

Goryeo, a country which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based on the shapes that were created by the mouth when it pronounces. This greatly improved communication between people, and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and the movable metal type were also improved. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was recorded for the first time.

Development in Korea

The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form cist graves lined with stones, and adorned with valuable items like amazonite jewelry buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, constructed from enormous single stones, are also prevalent 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 under the control of a variety 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 the majority of historians do not consider to be a proper 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 and left Baekje with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region surrounding 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 collaborate 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 is entering the post-crisis phase its development model appears to be in flux. Those who are appalled by the immense cost of the old system are urging a thorough program of liberalization of capital, labor, and product markets. On the other hand supporters of the old system are seeking to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and generating fear over potential job losses.

Academic and policy analysts remain sharply divided on the extent to which these two trends are driving Koreas development towards an economic model that is radically different from the one of governance. This article assesses developments to date, by looking at five phases of Korea's political evolution including illiberal democracy (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 some key factors that seem to be influencing these developments.

Creationism in Korea

In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have had success in promoting their beliefs to this group. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost three-quarters of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% stated that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory 39% of respondents said it contradicted their religious beliefs. 17% said they did not know what it meant. This level of doubt is similar to that of the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from lesser advanced species of life.

In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea was 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 Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. This event attracted a huge number of church leaders, and scientists.

The success of this event resulted in the establishment of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The inauguration meeting was widely reported in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also attracted a lot of attention.

KACR began publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In CREATION, the organization presented its own work and published articles on scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR and some books on the subject that were already in print outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the country at universities and churches.

A KACR success was witnessed at the KAIST University in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were so interested in creationism, they raised funds and received funding to construct a small museum dedicated to creation on campus.

In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION which covers topics in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branches, which hold seminars and provide talks to schoolchildren and other community groups.

Changes in South Korea

In the late 19th century and into the early the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. 에볼루션 슬롯게임 , the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts and other fashion elements from abroad. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern rock and roll and jazz. During this period, the famous samulnori or masked dancing-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and other instruments.


Korea's new development model is being formed in the wake of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is to find the right balance between state-led and market-oriented economic policies. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring or disciplining schemes which have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are covered in Chapters 3 & 4.

Founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established in the middle of the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other regions, as well as immigrants 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. The kingdom was in constant conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanders at the border.

The decline of Silla in the 8th and early 9th centuries saw powerful local factions to emerge. 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 as well as Chungcheong. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He became an adversary to Goguryeo.

However the rule of his was short-lived. 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 central government system. This was the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. The Korean peninsula was later controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly developed into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.