Evolution Korea

The democratic system in South Korea is prone to populist tendencies. However, it is more stable than what one might expect.

The country is searching for a new development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are signs that a secular culture is gaining ground.

Origins

In the early days the ancestors of modern Koreans were able to survive by hunting and gathering wild foods. 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 one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metalworking industry, producing bronze tools, and later iron ones. They traded with other nations and introduced block printing to Japan and also art styles and a written language and papermaking.

In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was established on the southern part of the peninsula. The state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this period the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society in which a monarch and high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy whereas the majority of the population was peasants. The state imposed taxes on the citizens and sometimes required them to serve in the army or participate in projects of the government, like building fortifications.

By the end of the period the state of Baekje was established by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and was the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. The new kingdom expanded its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commandos in the region. Baekje incorporated aspects of Confucian thought into its state beliefs and made the male-centric filiopiety concept as a law in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families, and had to be respected and obeyed by all people, even their children and grandchildren.

Goryeo, who ruled from 918 until 1392 CE established the Hangul alphabet that was based on the shapes formed by the mouth during pronunciation. This greatly improved communication between people and led to an explosion in the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also refined. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was the first to be recorded.

Evolution in Korea

The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times to. Early evidence of human settlements can be seen in the form of cist graves lined with stones, and adorned with precious objects like amazonite jewelry buried with the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, made of massive single stones, are widespread 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 a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCfrom 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. The northern region of the peninsula was occupied for a time by the Balhae Kingdom which historians do not believe to be a true Korean state.

Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje, the most powerful of these states was weakened by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE) leaving only its southern regions in Manchuria and the its western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy, flourished for a time.

The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to cooperate in order to expand their territories. Silla with the help of the Chinese, eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.

As Korea enters the post-crisis period its development model is in flux. Those who are appalled by the immense cost of the old system are urging a thorough program of liberalization of capital as well as labor markets. On the other hand the people who support the old system attempt to preserve it through nationalist sentiments, as well as by inflating fears about potential job losses.

Academics and analysts are divided over the extent to which Korea's development is influenced by these two trends. This article focuses on 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 democratic participation (2002). This article also identifies key factors that are shaping these processes.

Creationism in Korea

In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made significant progress in promoting their views to this segment. A 2009 survey showed that almost one-third of respondents were against evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there wasn't enough scientific evidence to support evolution 39% of respondents said that the theory contradicted their religion; and 17% said it was difficult to understand. The level of doubt is comparable to that of the United States where a similar percentage of people do not believe that humans evolved from earlier forms of life.

In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on teaching students and bringing Christ to them. A significant rise in interest in creation science came in the year 1980, following the inauguration of a four-day seminar during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. The event was attended by a large number of pastors, professors, church leaders and scientists.

The success of the event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st of 1980. The inauguration meeting was widely covered in national newspapers, such as The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo, and it was well-received by the public.

KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, which covered its activities and also published articles on scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR and several books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the country in churches and universities.

A KACR success was seen at KAIST University in Seoul. There, there were enough students fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised the funds and support to put up an on-campus museum showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.

In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine, CREATION, that covers topics related to creation science, and it has hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established a network of local branches that conduct seminars and present talks to school children and community groups.

Evolution in South Korea

In the late nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt an increasingly Westernized lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements from overseas. Similar to the way traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern rock and roll and jazz. During this time the samulnori, or masked dance dramas, were popular with the general public. These dramatic pieces were performed with the accompaniment of shaman drums and various musical instruments.

Korea's new development paradigm is being developed in the wake of the economic crisis. The biggest challenge facing the new regime is to find the right balance between state-led and market-oriented economic policies. It also involves rethinking the incentives and monitoring strategies that have created the system before the crisis. These issues are covered in Chapters 3 and 4.

Baekje was founded by Onjo Prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo was established by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other areas, as well as migrants from northern China. In the 4th century, in the early part of, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. Consequently, it came into frequent battle with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies across 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 the capital. He controlled a part of the present-day 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. 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 an alternative state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the centrally-run system. This marked the closing 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 grew to become powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.