Evolution Korea

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

The country is searching for a new way of developing. A Confucian culture that emphasizes respect for ancestors as well as gendered family relations continues influence society. There are signs that a secular culture is emerging.

Origins

In the early days the ancestors of today's Koreans were able to survive by hunting and gathering wild food. Then around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops such as millet and beans. They also raised livestock and also made furs. These people formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also created a metallurgy business, making iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other states and introduced cedon paper making, block printing art styles, as well as a written language to Japan.

In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was established in the southern region of the peninsula. The state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this period the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical where the monarch and senior officials were from the land aristocracy, while the majority of the population were peasants. The state extracted taxes from these citizens and sometimes required them to serve in the army or participate in government projects such as building fortifications.

Onjo Prince Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo established the state of Baekje at the end of the period. The new kingdom expanded to the southwest of the peninsula, and clashed with China's commandos and Goguryeo's in the region. Baekje incorporated aspects of Confucian thought into its state belief system and made the male centered filiopiety idea an official doctrine in 1390 CE. Under the cover of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families. They had to be obeyed by everyone and respected even by their grandchildren and children.

Goryeo, a nation which ruled from 918 until 1392 CE and gave the world the Hangul Alphabet, based on the shapes that were 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 refined. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.

Development in Korea

The Korean peninsula was habitable from Neolithic times until. Early evidence of human settlements is evident in the form of graves lined with stone, with precious items such as amazonite jewelry that were buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, also known as dolmens and constructed of large stones in a single piece, are prevalent throughout the country.

In the first second half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognized political state. After that the peninsula was ruled by a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCfrom 635 CE) including Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla. 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.

Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje was the most powerful of these states, was diminished by the collapse of Goguryeo (676 CE) and was left with only its southern regions in Manchuria, and the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy, thrived for a while.

The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to work together in order to expand their territory. In the final phase, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated the other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.

As Korea enters the post-crisis period its development model is in flux. People who are shocked by the huge cost of the old system support a comprehensive program of liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand, those who support the old system are seeking to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and inflating fears of job loss.

Academic and policy analysts remain sharply divided on the extent to which these two trends are driving Koreas evolution towards an economic model that is radically different from the one of governance. This article assesses the latest developments by analyzing five phases of the country's political evolution that include democratic illiberalism (1945-60), democratic authoritarianism (1961-72), authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001) and participatory democracy (2002 to the present). This article also identifies key elements that are driving these developments.

Creationism in Korea

In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made strides in promoting their beliefs to this segment. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that nearly one-third of respondents didn't believe in evolution. Of those who voted, 41% said that there was insufficient evidence from science to support the theory 39% claimed that the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs and 17% claimed it was difficult to understand. This level of disbelief is comparable to that in 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 movement in Korea was focused on the education of students and in bringing Christ to them. In 1980 the year 1980, a four-day creation science seminar was held in Seoul during the World Evangelization Crusade. Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Gish of ICR as the main speakers. This event drew an impressive crowd of scientists, professors, and church leaders.

The success of this event led to the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31 1981. The event was extensively covered in the national media, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.

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

One instance of a KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were so interested in creationism, they raised funds and received funding to build a small museum dedicated to creation on campus.

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

Evolution in South Korea

In the latter half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt a more Westernized lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts and other style elements imported from abroad. The traditional Korean music was also replaced by jazz and rock &amp