Evolution Korea

South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist inclinations. It's still more stable than we had hoped for.

The country is searching for a new way of developing. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for the ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend forming.

Origins

In prehistoric times the ancestors of the modern Koreans were capable of surviving by hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock and produced furs. They also established tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metallurgy business, making bronze and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced celadon papermaking block printing, art styles and writing to Japan.

In 2333 BCE Gojoseon came into existence in the southern region of the peninsula. This state embraced Chinese culture, including Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this period the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure in which a monarch and high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy, while the majority of the population was peasants. The state imposed taxes on the citizens and sometimes required them to join the army or take part in projects for the government like building fortifications.

Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo, founded the state of Baekje at the close of the period. The new kingdom expanded its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and fought with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the area. Baekje included elements of Confucian thought into its state belief system and made the male centered filiopiety idea as a law in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were responsible to their families. They must be obeyed by all and respected even by their grandchildren and children.

Goryeo, who ruled from 918 until 1392 CE established the Hangul alphabet built on the patterns created by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase in the writing of Buddhist text. In addition, movable metal type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was refined. 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 was habitable from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements can be found in the form of cist graves paved with stone, with precious items such as amazonite jewelry buried with the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, built from huge single stones, are also widespread throughout the country.

Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized in the first half of 1st millennium BCE. After that the peninsula was ruled by various states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. The northern region of the peninsula was for a while occupied by the Balhae Kingdom that historians do believe to be a real Korean state.

After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states arose in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). In all of them, Baekje was the most powerful state but its dynasty dissolved by the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE, leaving it with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region surrounding the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy prospered for a period of time.

The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territories. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, conquered the other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.

As Korea enters a post-crisis phase its development model appears to be in flux. People who are shocked by the huge cost of the old system advocate the need for a comprehensive program of liberalization in capital, labor, and product markets. On the other hand the supporters of the old system try to preserve it through nationalist sentiments, and by exaggerating fears about possible job loss.

Analysts and academics are divided over the extent to which Korea's evolution is being driven by these two trends. This article examines developments to date by analyzing five phases of the country's political evolution including illiberal democracy (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 significant factors that may be influencing these developments.

Creationism in Korea

In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have had success in promoting their views among this group. A 2009 survey revealed that almost a third of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support evolution 39% of respondents said that the theory did not align with their beliefs and 17% said it was difficult to grasp. The level of doubt is comparable to that of the United States where a similar number do not believe that humans evolved from lesser advanced species of life.

In the past, the majority of the anti-evolutionist movement in Korea was focused on teaching college students and bringing them to Christ. A significant rise in interest in creation science came in 1980, with the inauguration of a four-day seminar during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. The event was attended by a large number of church leaders, and scientists.

The success of this event led to the establishment of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The meeting was covered extensively in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.

KACR started publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the group reported on its own activities and published articles about scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated several slides and film strips from ICR, as well as several books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures across the country at universities and churches.

One instance of one KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, students were so fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised the money and support to put up an on-campus museum featuring creationist fossil models and other exhibits.

In addition to its activities, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine, CREATION. This magazine covers topics in the creation science. It also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established an organization of local branch offices that host talks and seminars to schoolchildren and community groups.

Changes in South Korea

In the latter part of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized style of life. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced by miniskirts, and other foreign fashion elements. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by contemporary jazz and rock and roll. At this time the famous samulnori or masked dance dramas, were popular with the general public. 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 paradigm of development. The primary challenge facing the new regime lies in the proper balance between state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also involves altering incentives, monitoring, or disciplining schemes which have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are covered in Chapters 3 and 4.

The Baekje was founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established jointly by people living along the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas and migrants from northern China. Baekje, a major regional power in the early 4th century, expanded its territory to Mahan in north and Jeollanam-do south. In the process, it entered into frequent confrontation with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies along the border.

The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the development of powerful local factions. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He ruled a portion of today's Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He was a rival to Goguryeo.

However, his rule was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla Later, he incorporated 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 under the control of the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually became powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.