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Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist impulses. It is still healthier than we had hoped for.
The country is in search of a new development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for ancestors as well as gendered family relationships, continues to influence the society. But there are signs that a secular culture is gaining ground.
Origins
In the prehistoric era, the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. Then around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock and produced furs. These people formed tribal states in succession in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other states and introduced cedon papermaking, block printing art styles, as well as written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this time, the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical where the monarch and other senior officials were from the land aristocracy, while the majority of the population were peasants. The state took taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to serve in the army or to build fortifications.
By the end of the 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 expanded its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the area. Baekje took on Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and made the male-centered concept of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under 에볼루션 무료체험 of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families. They must be obeyed by all and admired by even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, a country that was ruled from 918 to 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the shapes created by the mouth when pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and the movable metal type were also improved. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi or 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence of human settlements are evident in the form stone-lined cist graves with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried with the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, constructed from massive single stones, are widespread 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. 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 arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Of them, Baekje was the most powerful state, but its dynasty ended with the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE leaving it with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy thrived for some time.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to collaborate to expand their territories. Silla with the aid of the Chinese eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase, its development paradigm seems to be changing. Those who are horrified by the huge costs of the old systems support a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand, people who support the old system try to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, and by inflating fears about potential job losses.
Analysts and academics are divided about the extent to which Korea's evolution is being driven by these two trends. This article examines the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development that include 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 highlights the most important factors that are 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 segment. A survey conducted in 2009 found that nearly three-quarters of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those, 41% said there was not enough scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% believed it was contrary to their religious beliefs, and 17 percent said they did not understand it. This level of disbelief is comparable to that of the United States, where a similar percentage of people do not accept that humans evolved from less advanced species of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on the education of students and in bringing Christ to them. In 1980 an all-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. The event was attended by a large number of pastors, professors, church leaders and scientists.
The success of this event led to the establishment of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31 1981. The event was widely covered in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In CREATION, the organization published its own activities and published articles about scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated several films and slides from ICR and also a few books on creationism that were published outside of Korea. KACR members also gave talks in universities and churches across the country.
One instance of an KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, there were enough students interested in creationism that they raised enough money and support to put up a small museum on campus with creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine called CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics in the creation science. It also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also organized local branches that hold seminars and give talks to school children and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the late 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts and other style elements imported from overseas. Similar to the way traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern rock and roll and jazz. During this time the famous samulnori or masked dance-dramas, were loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers and other musical instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being developed in the wake of the economic crisis. The primary challenge for the new regime is to strike an equilibrium between market-oriented and state-led economic policies. It also involves changing the incentives and monitoring strategies that have been a part of the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed 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 and also by a migrant 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 conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies across the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries allowed strong local factions to emerge. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He controlled a part of the present-day Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He became an adversary 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, later incorporated Baekje into Goryeo without a fight as his successor. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized government system. This was the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From that point on, the Korean peninsula was under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.