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Evolution Korea

The democratic system in South Korea is vulnerable to populist impulses. It is still healthier than we had hoped for.

The country is searching for an innovative development paradigm. A Confucian culture that values respect for the ancestors and gendered family relationships continues to influence the way we live. But there are signs that a secularist culture is beginning to emerge.

Origins

In the prehistoric era the ancestors of the modern Koreans lived on hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans, and other crops. They also raised livestock and made furs. They established tribal states in Manchuria, and then on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metallurgy industry, producing bronze and later iron tools. They traded with other nations and introduced block and celadon printing to Japan, as well as styles of art, a written language, and papermaking.

In 2333 BCE Gojoseon came into existence in the southern region of the peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. During this time, the people of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy where the monarch and senior officials came from the land aristocracy, while the majority of the population were peasants. The state imposed taxes on the citizens and often required them to join the army or work on projects for the government like building fortifications.

Onjo the prince of Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo established the state of Baekje towards the end of the time. This new kingdom expanded into the southwest part of the peninsula, and fought against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the region. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and made the male-centered concept of filiopiety into a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families, and had to be respected and obeyed by all, including their children and grandchildren.

Goryeo, a nation which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE in the year 1392 CE, introduced to the world the Hangul Alphabet, based on the shapes that were created by the mouth when pronouncing. This significantly improved communication between people, and resulted in an explosion of the writing of Buddhist texts. Additionally, movable metal type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was improved. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' was first written in 1145 CE.

Evolution in Korea

The Korean peninsula has been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence of human settlements are evident in the form of graves lined with stone, with precious goods such as amazonite jewellery being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures, known as dolmens, and made of large stones in a single piece, are prevalent throughout the country.

Gojoseon became the first political state to be recognized in the first half of the 1st millennium BCE. The peninsula was later under the control of a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE), including Baekje and Goguryeo. The northern part of the peninsula was occupied for a period by the Balhae Kingdom that historians do consider to be a genuine Korean state.

After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). In all of them, Baekje was the most powerful of them all, but its dynasty ended by the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE, leaving the southern provinces of Manchuria and the western region surrounding the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy thrived for some time.

The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to collaborate to expand their territories. In the end, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.

As Korea enters the post-crisis period, its development paradigm appears to be changing. Those who are horrified by the enormous cost of the old system are in favor of a comprehensive plan for liberalization of labor, capital and markets for products. On the other hand the people who support the old system try to protect it by promoting nationalist sentiments, as well as by exaggerating fears about possible job loss.

Policy and academic analysts are sharply divided on the extent to these two developments are driving Koreas development towards an entirely new model of economic governance. This article examines the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development including democratic democracies that are not liberal (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). This article also identifies key factors that appear to be the driving force behind these developments.

Creationism in Korea

In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their beliefs to this population. A 2009 survey showed that nearly one-third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of the respondents, 41% believed that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory; 39% claimed that it did not align with their religious beliefs. 17% said they did not understand it. This level of disbelief approaches that of the United States, where a majority of people are not convinced that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.

In the past, the anti-evolutionist campaign in Korea focused primarily on the education of students and the introduction of Christ to them. In 1980 an all-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the keynote speakers. The event was attended by a large number of professors, church leaders and scientists.

The event's success led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st in 1980. The event was widely covered in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.

KACR began publishing a newsletter called CREATION. In it, the group reported on its own activities and published articles on the scientific evidence for the existence of God. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR as well as a few books on creationism that were already 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 interested in creationism, they raised money and got funding to build a small creationist museum on campus.

In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION which covers topics in creation science. It also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established a network of local branches that hold seminars and provide talks to children in schools and community groups.

The evolution of South Korea

In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok, was replaced with miniskirts and other fashion elements from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. In this period the samulnori, or masked dance dramas, were loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers and other instruments.

The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new model of development. The new regime's main challenge is to find the right balance between the state-led economic policies and market-oriented ones. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring, or disciplining schemes which have created the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed 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. Baekje was an important regional power in the 4th century extended its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do south. This meant that it was constantly in conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanders on the border.

The decline of Silla in the 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. He also was in control of a portion of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He was a rival to Goguryeo.

However, his rule was 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 peacefully incorporated into Goryeo as a successor state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centralized ruling system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was then ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually became powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.