Evolution Korea
South Korea's democracy is prone to populist impulses. However, it's healthier than one would expect.
The country is searching for a new paradigm of development. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for ancestors as well as gendered family relations continues influence the way we live. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend emerging.
Origins
In prehistoric times the ancestors of the modern Koreans lived 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 also made furs. They created tribal states in Manchuria, and then on the Korean peninsula. They also developed a metallurgy industry, producing bronze and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced cedon, paper making block printing art styles, as well as written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. In this time, the inhabitants of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical with the monarch and top officials were from the land aristocracy, while the rest of its population were peasants. The state extracted taxes from 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 established by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. This new kingdom expanded into the southwest part of the peninsula, and was at war against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the region. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas into its state belief system in 1390 CE and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families, and had to be respected and obeyed by all, including their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, This Internet site which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE, gave the world the Hangul Alphabet, based on the shapes that were created by the mouth while pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase 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, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. Early evidence for human settlements is visible in the form of stone-lined cist graves with precious items like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, constructed from huge single stones, are also common throughout the country.
In the first part of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. After that the peninsula was ruled by various states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCfrom 635 CE) including Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla. The northern portion of the peninsula was for a while occupied by the Balhae Kingdom, which historians do not believe to be a true Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Baekje is the most powerful of these states was weakened by the fall of Goguryeo (676 CE) leaving only its southern territories in Manchuria and the 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 cooperate to expand their territories. Silla with the help of the Chinese eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.
As Korea is entering a post-crisis period its development model appears to be changing. The people who are awed by the costs of the old systems support a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and product markets. On the other hand the supporters of the old system seek to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, and by inflating fears about potential job loss.
Academics and analysts are divided on the extent to which Korea's development is being driven by these two trends. This article reviews developments to date by analyzing five phases of Korea's political evolution that include democratic illiberalism (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 the key elements that are driving these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their views to this population. A survey conducted in 2009 found that nearly three-quarters of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there wasn't enough scientific evidence to support evolution; 39% said the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs and 17% claimed it was difficult to understand. This level of disbelief is similar to that of the United States where a similar number do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea was focused on educating students and the introduction of Christ to them. An increase in the interest in creation science occurred in 1980, with an all-day seminar that was held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. This event was attended by an impressive crowd of scientists, professors, and church leaders.
The event's success led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st of 1980. The inaugural meeting was widely reported in national newspapers, such as The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and received wide attention.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, where it published its activities and published articles about the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated a number of film strips and slides from ICR as well as a few books on creationism that were already published outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the country in churches and universities.
One instance of a KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, students were so interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the funds and support to put up an on-campus museum featuring creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine, CREATION, that covers topics related to creation science. It also sponsored a series of talks by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branches that conduct seminars and present talks to children in schools and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt an increasingly Westernized lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other style elements imported from overseas. Similar to the way traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern rock and roll and jazz. In this time the famous samulnori, also known as masked dancing-dramas were very popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers as well as other musical instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new development paradigm. The new regime's main challenge is the balance between state-led economic policies as well as market-oriented ones. It also involves changing the incentives, monitoring, and disciplining strategies that have shaped the system before the crisis. These issues are covered in Chapters 3 and 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 areas, and people from northern China. In the 4th century, in the early part of, 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 late 8th and early 9th centuries enabled powerful local factions to rise. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He controlled a part of today's Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of 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 and later joined Baekje into Goryeo and acted as a peaceful successor. 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 then controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly grew into powerful states on the peninsula as well as in Manchuria.