The 10 Scariest Things About Evolution Korea

Evolution Korea

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

The country is looking for a new paradigm of development. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for ancestors and gendered family relations continues influence the way we live. There are indications of a secularist culture trend forming.

Origins

In the prehistoric era, the ancestors to today’s Koreans were capable of surviving by hunting and gathering wild foods. In the tens of thousands of years after, they began to grow crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock and made furs. These tribes formed tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also developed a metallurgy industry, producing iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other states and introduced cedon papermaking block printing, art styles and writing to Japan.

Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. At this time the inhabitants of Buyeo were incorporated into Gojoseon. Gojoseon had a hierarchical structure that included a monarch as well as high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy while the majority of the population were peasants. The state extracted taxes from these citizens and sometimes required them to fight in the army or participate in projects for the government like building fortifications.

At the end of the period, the state of Baekje was founded by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and was the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. The new kingdom grew into the southwest region of the peninsula, and clashed against Goguryeo’s commanderies and China’s in the region. Baekje included elements of Confucian beliefs into its official beliefs and made the male-centric concept of filiopiety an official doctrine in 1390 CE. Under the guise filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They were expected to be obeyed by all and respected even by their grandchildren and children.

Goryeo, who would rule from 918 until 1392 CE established the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth during pronunciation. This greatly improved communication and led to a rise in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metallic type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was refined. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi or ‘History of the Three Kingdoms’ was first written in 1145 CE.

Development in Korea

The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times to. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of cist graves lined with stone, with precious items such as amazonite jewelry that were buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, constructed from massive single stones, are prevalent throughout the country.

In the first part of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognizable political state. The peninsula was later controlled by a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) which included Baekje and Goguryeo. In addition, the northern region of the peninsula was ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which many historians don’t consider to be a proper Korean state.

After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, also known as the Several States Period. Baekje is the most powerful of these states, was diminished by the Goguryeo’s fall (676 CE) and was left with only its southern territories in Manchuria and the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo as well as the Gaya confederacy, flourished for a time.

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

As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase its development model appears to be in flux. Those who are horrified by the cost of the old system support a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and product markets. On the other hand those who support the old system seek to preserve it by leveraging nationalist sentiments and exaggerating fears over potential job losses.

The academic and policy analysts remain starkly divided as to the extent to the extent that these two developments are driving Koreas development towards a new model of economic governance. This article analyzes the five phases of Korea’s evolution in terms of its political development: democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). This article also highlights significant factors that may be shaping these processes.

Creationism in Korea

In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their beliefs to this population. A survey in 2009 found that nearly a third of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of the respondents, 41% stated that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support evolution 39% claimed that the theory contradicted their religion; and 17% said it was difficult to grasp. This level of disbelief approaches that of the United States, where a majority of people do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced species 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. A significant rise in the interest in creation science occurred in the year 1980, following an all-day seminar that was held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. The event was attended by a large number of pastors, professors, church leaders, and scientists.

The success of this event resulted in the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31 1981. The inaugural event was widely reported in national newspapers, such as The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and received wide attention.

KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, which reported on its activities and also published articles on scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated a number of films and slides from ICR and a few books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members taught throughout the country in churches and universities.

One example of one KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, students were so interested in creationism that they raised the funds and support to put up a small museum on campus featuring creationist fossil models and other exhibits.

In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine, CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics in the field of creation science. It also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has local branches that hold seminars and give talks to school children and other community groups.

Changes in South Korea

In the latter half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized style of life. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts and other fashion elements from overseas. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by rock and roll and jazz. In this period the samulnori, or masked dance dramas, were popular with the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums as well as various types of musical instruments.

The economic crisis has formed Korea’s new model of development. The primary challenge for the new regime is to find the right balance between market-oriented and state-led economic policies. It also requires changing 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 in the middle of the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas, and people from northern China. Baekje, an important regional power in the 4th century expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do south. The kingdom was in constant conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies on the border.

The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries resulted in the development of powerful local factions. Gungye an eminent 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. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He was an adversary to Goguryeo.

His rule was however 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 integrated into Goryeo as a successor state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centralized ruling system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From then on, the Korean peninsula was controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually grew to become powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.