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Evolution Korea

South Korea's democracy is prone to populist inclinations. It's still more stable than was expected.

The country is looking for an alternative development model. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for the ancestors as well as gendered family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend emerging.

Origins

In the prehistoric era the ancestors of the modern Koreans lived on hunting and gathering wild food. Then 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 another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metalworking, making bronze tools and later iron ones. They also traded with other countries and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan along with styles of art and a written language and paper making.

In 2333 BCE Gojoseon came into existence in the southern part of the peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this time the inhabitants of Buyeo were incorporated into Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical where the monarch and other senior officials were from the aristocracy of the land, while the rest of its population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens and sometimes required them to serve in the army or participate in projects for the government like building fortifications.

At the end 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. This new kingdom expanded into the southwest of the peninsula, and fought against the Goguryeo commanderies and China's in the region. Baekje took on Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE, and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They were expected to be obedient to everyone and respected by their grandchildren and children.

Goryeo, a country which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE, gave the world the Hangul Alphabet based upon the patterns created by the mouth when pronouncing. This significantly improved communication between people, and led to an explosion in the writing of Buddhist texts. Woodblock printing and the movable metal type were also improved. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.

Evolution in Korea

The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence of human settlements is evident in the form graves lined with stone, with precious objects like amazonite jewelry being buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, built from massive single stones, are 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 several states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje Goguryeo and Silla. Additionally, the northern part of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which most historians do not believe to be a proper Korean state.

Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje is the most powerful of these states, was weakened by the fall of Goguryeo (676 CE) leaving only its southern territories in Manchuria and the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo as well as the Gaya confederacy, prospered for a time.

The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to cooperate to expand their territories. In the final phase, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated 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. Those who are horrified by the huge cost of the old systems advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand, supporters of the old system seek to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, and by stoking fears of job losses.

Analysts and academics are divided over the extent to which Korea's growth is being driven by these two trends. This article examines developments to date, by looking at five phases of Korea's political development that include 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 significant factors that may be influencing these developments.

Creationism in Korea

In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have made progress in promoting their views to this segment. A survey from 2009 showed that nearly one-third of respondents did not 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, and 17% said they did not know what it meant. This level of doubt is similar to that of the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from less advanced types of life.

In the past, the anti-evolutionist campaign in Korea was primarily focused on educating students and bringing Christ to them. An increase in interest in creation science came in the year 1980, following the inauguration of a four-day seminar during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul that featured Drs. page and Duane Giss of ICR were the keynote speakers. This event drew an impressive crowd of scientists, professors and church leaders.

The event's success led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31st of 1980. The inaugural event was widely reported in national newspapers, such as The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo, and it attracted a lot of attention.

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

A KACR success was observed at the KAIST University in Seoul. There, enough students were interested in creationism that they raised the funds and support needed to build an on-campus museum with creationist fossil models and other exhibits.

In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION, which covers topics in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series of talks by ICR staff. It has also established an organization of local branch offices that give talks and seminars to schoolchildren and other community groups.

Evolution in South Korea

In the late 19th century and the beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other style elements imported from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. During this time the famous samulnori or masked dance dramas, were loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and other instruments of music.

The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new paradigm of development. The biggest challenge facing the new regime is to strike the right balance between state-led and market-oriented economic policies. It also requires altering incentives, monitoring, or disciplining schemes which have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed 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 immigrants from northern China. In the 4th century, in the early part of, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. As a result, it was in frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies across the border.


The decline of Silla in the late 8th and 9th centuries enabled strong local factions to emerge. Gungye, a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital. He also exerted control over part of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He was a rival to Goguryeo.

The rule of his was, however, short-lived. After Gungye was defeated by a powerful local leader, Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935, Later Baekje was peacefully integrated into Goryeo as an heir state. In addition, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a centralized rule system. This marked the conclusion of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point, the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly grew into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.

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