Evolution Korea Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

Evolution Korea

South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. However, it's healthier than might be expected.

The country is in search of an alternative development model. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are signs that a secular culture is beginning to emerge.

Origins

In prehistoric times, the ancestors of modern Koreans lived by hunting and gathering wild food. Then around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate crops like millet and beans. They also raised livestock and created furs. They formed tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metalworking industry, producing bronze tools, and later iron ones. They also traded with other countries and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan and also styles of art and a written language and paper making.

Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Chinese culture that included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. At this time, the people of Buyeo were part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society with a monarch and top officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy while the rest of the population were peasants. The state collected taxes from the citizens and often 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, the founder of Goguryeo, founded the state of Baekje towards the end of the period. The new kingdom grew its territory to the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war with Goguryeo and China's commanderies in the region. Baekje included elements of Confucian beliefs into its official belief system and made the male-centric filiopiety idea as a law in 1390 CE. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families and they must be obeyed and respected by all, including their grandchildren and children.

Goryeo, a country that was ruled from 918 to 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the shapes that were created by the mouth when it pronounces. 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 refined. In 1145 CE the Samguk Sagi, or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was recorded for the first time.

Development in Korea

The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements can be seen in the form cist graves paved with stones, and adorned with precious objects like amazonite jewelry buried with the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, built from enormous single stones, are common throughout the country.

Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized during the first half of 1st millennium BCE. 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 occupied for a time by the Balhae Kingdom which historians do not believe to be a true Korean state.

Following 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 of them all, but its dynasty ended when Goguryeo was defeated 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 collaborate in order to expand their territories. Silla with the help of the Chinese, eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.

As Korea enters the post-crisis period the development paradigm of the country appears to be in flux. Those who are horrified by the enormous cost of the old system are in favor of a comprehensive plan for liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand, champions of the old system seek to keep it in place by leveraging nationalist sentiments and inflating fears of job loss.

Academics and analysts are divided over the extent to which Korea's evolution is influenced by these two trends. This article examines the latest developments by analyzing five phases of Korea'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 present). This article also identifies key elements that are shaping these processes.

Creationism in Korea

In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their views to this population. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost one-third of respondents were against evolution. Of  에볼루션 코리아 , 41% claimed that there was not enough evidence from science to support the theory 39% of respondents said that 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 do not accept that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.

In the past, most of the anti-evolution movements in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading them to Christ. An increase in the interest in creation science occurred in the year 1980, when there was an all-day seminar that was held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which featured Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the main speakers. This event drew an impressive crowd of scientists, professors and church leaders.

The success of the event led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31, 1980. The event was extensively covered in the national media, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.

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

A KACR success was witnessed at the KAIST University in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were so interested in creationism, they raised money and secured funding to construct a small creationist museum on campus.

In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, that covers topics related to creation science, and it has sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also created branches in local offices that give talks and seminars to schoolchildren and community groups.

The evolution of South Korea

In the latter part of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts and other fashion elements from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. At this time, the famous samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, became popular with the general public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and other instruments of music.

Korea's new model of development is being formed in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The primary challenge for the new regime is to strike an equilibrium between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring, or disciplining systems that have been a part of the system prior the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 & 4.

The Baekje was founded by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established in the middle of 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 commanderies on the border.

The decline of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries allowed powerful local factions to rise. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as the capital. He ruled a portion of the present-day Jeolla province as well as Chungcheong. Later, he relocated 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 then 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 centrally-run system. This marked the closing of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was later 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.