South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. It is still healthier than we had hoped for.
The country is in search of a new development paradigm. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for ancestors and as well as gendered family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend emerging.
Origins
During prehistoric times, the ancestors of modern Koreans lived by 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 also established tribal states one after the other in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metallurgy industry, producing iron tools and bronze. They also traded with other countries and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan along with art styles and a written language and papermaking.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon came into existence in the southern region of the peninsula. The state adopted Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. During this time the people of Buyeo were part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society that included a monarch as well as senior officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy while the rest of the population was peasants. The state imposed taxes on these citizens, and sometimes required them to fight in the army or take part in projects for the government like building fortifications.
By the end of this period, the state of Baekje was founded by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. This new kingdom expanded into the southwest region of the peninsula, and clashed against the Goguryeo commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje adopted Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE, and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety into a doctrine. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families and they must be obeyed and respected by everyone, even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, a country that ruled from 918 until 1392 CE in the year 1392 CE, introduced to the world the Hangul Alphabet, based on the shapes created by the mouth while pronouncing. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. In addition, movable metal type printing was introduced and woodblock printing was improved. In 1145 CE, the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was first recorded.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times onwards. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of cist graves paved with stone, and decorated with precious items such as amazonite jewelry that were buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, made of enormous single stones, are prevalent throughout the country.
In the first part of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. The peninsula was then under the control of a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE), including Baekje and Goguryeo. In addition, the northern region of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which the majority of historians do not believe to be a valid Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Baekje, the most powerful of these states was diminished by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE), leaving it with only its southern regions in Manchuria and the the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy, prospered for a time.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms started to cooperate to expand their territories. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated all other states and united the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase, its development paradigm seems to be in flux. The people who are affronted by the immense cost of the old system advocate an extensive program of liberalization of capital as well as labor and product markets. On the other hand, people who support the old system seek to preserve it through nationalist sentiments and by inflating fears about potential job loss.
Analysts and academics are divided over the extent to which Korea's evolution is influenced by these two trends. This article examines the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development including illiberal democracies (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). This article also identifies important factors that appear to be shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. The creationists have been successful in promoting their beliefs to this population. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that nearly a third of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said 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 understand. This level of disbelief approaches that of the United States, where a majority of people do not believe that humans evolved from earlier forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution campaign in Korea focused primarily on the education of students and in bringing Christ to them. In 1980, a four-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. This event drew an impressive crowd of scientists, professors and church leaders.
The success of this event led to the establishment of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31st, 1981. The event was extensively covered in national newspapers including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, where it reported on its activities and also published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR and a few books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures at universities and churches throughout the country.
One example of one KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, there were enough students interested in the idea of creationism that they raised the money and support to construct a small museum on campus 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 creation science, and it has hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established a network of local branches that conduct seminars and provide talks to children in schools and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and into the early the 20th century, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts and other foreign fashion elements. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock & roll. In the period of this transition, the famous samulnori or dance-dramas with masks were extremely popular. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drummers as well as other musical instruments.
The economic crisis has shaped Korea's new model of development. The primary challenge facing the new regime lies in the proper balance between the state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also involves changing the incentives monitoring and discipline policies that shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Baekje, founded by Onjo the prince and third son of Jumong of Goguryeo, was founded by people from the Hangang River area, Buyeo and other regions, as well as migrants from northern China. In the early 4th century, Baekje was a major regional power, Www.evolutionkr.Kr and expanded its territory to Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. It was therefore in constant conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanders on the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries led to the rise of powerful local factions. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He controlled a part of the present-day Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He was an adversary to Goguryeo.
However the rule of his was short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935 and unified Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla and later joined Baekje into Goryeo peacefully as a successor. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the central government 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.
