Evolution Korea

South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. However, it is more stable than one would expect.

The country is looking for an entirely new model of development. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for the ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend that is emerging.

Origins

In prehistoric times the ancestors of the 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. They formed tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools and bronze. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon 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 embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. In this period the people of Buyeo were incorporated into Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure that included a monarch as well as senior officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy while the rest of the population was peasants. The state imposed taxes on these citizens and sometimes required them to fight in the army or participate in projects for the government like building fortifications.

At the end of this period the state of Baekje was founded by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and was the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. This new kingdom expanded its territory into the southwest of the peninsula and clashed with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the area. 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 cover of 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 introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metallic type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was refined. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first written in 1145 CE.

Development in Korea

The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence of human settlements is evident in the form stone-lined cist graves with precious items such as amazonite jewellery being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures, known as dolmens, and made of large stones in a single piece, 무료에볼루션 are widespread 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 then under the control of a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE), including Baekje and Goguryeo. Additionally, the northern part of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which the majority of historians do not believe to be a valid Korean state.

After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Baekje, the most powerful of these states, was weakened by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE) leaving only its southern territories in Manchuria and the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy, flourished for a while.

The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms started to work together to expand their territories. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.

As Korea enters the post-crisis era the development paradigm of the country appears to be changing. People who are shocked by the enormous cost of the old system advocate a thorough program of liberalization of capital as well as labor markets. On the other hand the people who support the old system try to protect it by promoting nationalist sentiments and by inflating fears about potential job losses.

Policy and academic analysts are in a tense debate about the extent to which these two trends are driving Koreas shift towards a new model of economic governance. This article examines the five phases of Korea's evolution 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 driving these developments.

Creationism in Korea

In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made significant progress in promoting their views to this group. A survey in 2009 revealed that nearly one third of respondents do not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support evolution 39% of respondents said that the theory did not align with their beliefs and 17% claimed it was difficult to understand. The level of doubt is similar 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 focused primarily on educating students and in bringing Christ to them. A significant rise in interest in creation science began in the year 1980, following a four-day seminar held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the keynote speakers. This event was attended by an impressive crowd of scientists, professors, and church leaders.

The success of the event resulted in the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st in 1980. The inauguration meeting was widely covered in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also received wide attention.

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

One instance of one KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, enough students were interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the funds and support to construct an on-campus museum showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.

In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics that pertain to the science of creation. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also created branches in local offices that give seminars and talks to schoolchildren and other community groups.

Changes in South Korea

In the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early 20th century, Korea began to adopt an increasingly Westernized lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts and other style elements imported from overseas. 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 accompaniment of shaman drummers and other instruments.

The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new development paradigm. The main challenge for the new regime is the balance between the state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also involves changing the incentives, monitoring, and disciplining strategies that have shaped the system before the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 & 4.

Founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established jointly by the people who lived along the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other regions, as well as migrants 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. It was therefore in constant conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanders at the border.

The decline of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries saw strong local factions to emerge. Gungye was a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. It also held control over a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He was an adversary to Goguryeo.

However, his rule was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and unified Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla and later joined Baekje into Goryeo and acted as a peaceful successor. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized rule system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was then controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly developed into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.