Evolution Korea

South Korea's democracy is susceptible to populist impulses. It's still better than expected.

The country is searching for a new paradigm of development. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for the ancestors and gendered family relationships continues to influence the way we live. There are signs that a secular culture is beginning to emerge.

Origins

During prehistoric times, the ancestors of modern Koreans survived by hunting and gathering wild food. Then around 10,000 years ago they began to cultivate crops such as millet and beans. They also raised livestock and created furs. They established tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry for metalworking, which produced bronze tools and later iron tools. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon paper making, block printing, art styles and written language to Japan.

Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state adopted Chinese culture which included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. At this time the inhabitants of Buyeo were incorporated into Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state of hierarchy with the monarch and top officials were members of the aristocracy of the land, while the rest of the population was peasants. The state extracted taxes from these citizens, and sometimes required them to serve in the army or participate in projects of 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 with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the region. Baekje included elements of Confucian thought into its state beliefs and made the male-centric concept of filiopiety an official doctrine in 1390 CE. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families and had to be revered and obeyed by all, including their grandchildren and children.

Goryeo, a country that was ruled from 918 to 1392 CE, gave the world the Hangul Alphabet, based on the shapes created by the mouth when it pronounces. 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 refined. It was during this time that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' was first written in 1145 CE.

Development in Korea

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

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

Following the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Of them, Baekje was the most powerful state but its dynasty dissolved when Goguryeo was defeated in 676 CE, leaving the southern provinces of Manchuria and the western region surrounding the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy flourished for a short time.

The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms started to cooperate to expand their territories. In the final phase, Silla, with significant Chinese aid, Www.Evolutionkr.Kr conquered all other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.

As Korea is entering a post-crisis period, its development paradigm seems to be in flux. Those who are horrified by the cost of the old systems advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and product markets. On the other hand, people who support the old system seek to protect it by promoting nationalist sentiments and by inflating fears about potential job loss.

The academic and policy analysts remain sharply divided on the extent to these two trends are driving Koreas shift towards a new model of economic governance. This article reviews developments to date, by looking at five phases of Korea's political evolution: the illiberal democratic period (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) and authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87), democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and participatory democracy (2002 to the present). This article also highlights significant factors that may be influencing these developments.

Creationism in Korea

In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made significant progress in promoting their views to this segment. A survey conducted in 2009 found that nearly one third of respondents do not believe in the theory of evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there wasn't enough scientific evidence to support evolution 39% claimed that the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs