Evolution Korea: What Nobody Is Talking About
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Evolution Korea
South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist inclinations. It is still healthier than we had hoped for.
The country is seeking an entirely new model of development. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for ancestors and as well as gendered family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend emerging.
Origins
In prehistoric times the ancestors of modern Koreans were able to survive by hunting and gathering wild foods. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock, and even made furs. They created tribal states in Manchuria, and then on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metalworking, making bronze tools, and later iron tools. They traded with other nations and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan and also art styles and a written language and paper making.
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 inhabitants of Buyeo were part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical state where the monarch and other senior officials were from the aristocracy of the land, whereas the majority of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens and sometimes even forced them to join the army or to build fortifications.
Onjo Prince Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo, founded the state of Baekje at the close of the period. This new kingdom expanded its territory to the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the area. Baekje incorporated aspects of Confucian thought into its state beliefs and made the male centered filiopiety concept an official doctrine in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families and had to be revered and obeyed by all, including their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, who ruled from 918 to 1392 CE introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth during pronunciation. This greatly improved communication between people, and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also refined. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' was first recorded in 1145 CE.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times and early evidence of human settlements are evident in the form stone-lined cist graves with precious items like amazonite jewelry being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens, constructed from huge single stones, are prevalent throughout the country.
In the first second half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognisable political state. After that, the peninsula was ruled by various states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla. The northern region of the peninsula was for a while occupied 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. Baekje is the most powerful of these states was weakened by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE) and was left with only its southern territories in Manchuria, and western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo as well as the Gaya confederacy, prospered for a while.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to collaborate in order to expand their territorial holdings. Silla with the aid of the Chinese eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters a post-crisis era the way it develops appears to be in flux. The people who are awed by the enormous cost of the old systems support a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand champions of the old system want to preserve it by leveraging nationalist sentiments and generating fear over potential job losses.
Academic and policy analysts remain starkly divided as to the extent to the extent that these two developments are driving Koreas development towards an entirely new model of economic governance. This article examines the latest developments by analyzing five phases of the country's political evolution that include the illiberal democratic period (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 some key factors that seem to be influencing these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made strides in promoting their views to this group. A 2009 survey showed that nearly a third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of those, 41% said that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% claimed that it did not align with their religious beliefs; and 17% said they did not know what it meant. This level of disbelief is comparable to that of the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from earlier types of life.
In the past, the majority of the anti-evolution movements in Korea was focused on teaching college students and in bringing them to Christ. A significant increase in interest in creation science came 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 success of the event resulted in the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 in 1980. The meeting was covered extensively in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, where it covered its activities and published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated film strips and slides from ICR as well as a few books on the subject of creationism, which were already published outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures at universities and churches throughout the country.
A KACR success was witnessed at KAIST University in Seoul. There, enough students were interested in creationism that they raised enough money and support to construct a small museum on campus with creationist fossil models and other exhibits.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. The magazine covers subjects that read more pertain to the science of creation. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established a network of local branch offices that offer talks and seminars to schoolchildren and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the late 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements imported from abroad. Similarly, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern jazz and rock and roll. In the period of this transition the samulnori, or dance-dramas with masks were extremely popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drums and other musical instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new paradigm of development. The primary challenge facing the new regime is to find the right balance between state-led economic policies as well as market-oriented ones. It also involves rethinking the incentives, monitoring, and disciplining schemes that have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 & 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo, prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo, was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo, and other areas as well as migrant workers from northern China. In the early 4th century, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory to 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 fall of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries saw 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 present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
However, his rule was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and unified Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla, later incorporated Baekje into Goryeo peacefully as a successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centralized ruling system. This marked the closing of the Three Kingdoms period. From then on, the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.