Evolution Korea Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters
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Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is prone to populist tendencies. It's still better than expected.
The country is looking for a new paradigm of development. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for ancestors as well as gendered family relations continues to influence the society. However, there are signs that a secularist culture is beginning to emerge.
Origins
In the prehistoric era, the ancestors of modern Koreans lived on hunting and gathering wild food. Then around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate crops such as millet and beans. They also raised livestock and produced furs. These people formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also developed an industry of metalworking, making bronze tools and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced cedon, paper making, block printing art styles, and writing to Japan.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. In this period the inhabitants 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 majority of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens, and sometimes forced them to join the army or construct fortifications.
At the close of this 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 to the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war against the Goguryeo commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje adopted Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE, and made the male-centered concept of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under the cover of filiopiety fathers were responsible to their families. They must be obeyed by everyone and respected by their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, a country that ruled from 918 until 1392 CE, gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the shapes that were created by the mouth while pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metal type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was improved. In 1145 CE, the Samguk Sagi, or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was recorded for the first time.
The evolution of Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence for human settlements is evident in the form graves lined with stones, with precious objects such as amazonite jewellery being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, made of massive single stones, are also widespread throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized in the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. 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 ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which the majority of historians do not believe to be a valid Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Of them, Baekje was the most powerful however, its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE and left it with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy flourished for a short time.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms started to work together to expand their territories. Silla with the aid of the Chinese eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase its development model appears to be changing. The people who are awed by the costs of the old systems advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and product markets. On the other hand, people who support the old system try to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, and by exaggerating fears about possible job losses.
The academic and policy analysts remain in a tense debate about the extent to these two trends are driving Koreas evolution towards an entirely new model of economic governance. This article reviews developments to date, by looking at five phases of Korea's political development that include the illiberal democratic period (1945-60) democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87), democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and participatory democracy (2002 to present). This article also identifies some important factors that appear to be influencing these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their beliefs to this group. A survey from 2009 showed that nearly a third of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there was insufficient evidence from science to support the theory; 39% said the theory did not align with their beliefs; and 17% said it was difficult to grasp. This level of doubt is similar to that of the United States, where a similar percentage of people are not convinced that humans evolved from less advanced types of life.
In the past of the anti-evolution movements in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading them to Christ. An increase in interest in creation science came in the year 1980, when there was a four-day seminar held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. This event drew a large audience 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 of 1980. The meeting was covered extensively in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the group published its own activities and published articles about scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR and also some books on the subject that were already in print outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures in churches and universities throughout the country.
A KACR success was observed at KAIST University in Seoul. There, students were so interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the money and support to put up a small museum on campus featuring creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. This magazine covers topics in the creation science. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has an organization of local branch offices that host talks and seminars to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter part of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts and other foreign fashion elements. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. During this period the samulnori, or dance-dramas with masks were extremely popular. These dramatic dances were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and various musical instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new paradigm of development. The new regime's main challenge is to find the right balance between state-led economic policies as well as market-based ones. It also involves rethinking the incentives, monitoring, and disciplining schemes that have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 & 4.
Baekje was founded by Onjo Prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo, was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other regions and also by a migrant from northern China. Baekje was an important regional power in the early 4th Century expanded its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. This meant that it was constantly here in conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies on the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries enabled powerful local factions to rise. Gungye an eminent noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. It also was in control of a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He became a rival to Goguryeo.
His rule was however short-lived. After his defeat, Gungye was replaced by a powerful local leader Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935. Later, Baekje was incorporated peacefully into Goryeo as an alternative state. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central government system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From that point the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.