South Korea's democratic system is prone to populist tendencies. However, it's healthier than might be expected.
The country is looking for an alternative development model. The Confucian culture, which emphasizes respect for the ancestors as well as gendered family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are indications of a secularist culture trend emerging.Origins
In the early days, the ancestors to modern Koreans were capable of survival through hunting and gathering wild foods. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet and beans as well as other crops. They also raised livestock, and even made furs. They established tribal states in Manchuria, and then on the Korean peninsula. They also established an industry of metallurgy, which produced iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other states and introduced Celadon papermaking, block printing, art styles and written language to Japan.
Gojoseon was founded in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state embraced Chinese culture, including Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. During this period the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a state that was hierarchical with the monarch and top officials were members of the aristocracy of the land, while the rest of its population were peasants. The state collected taxes from these citizens and sometimes even forced them to join the army or to build fortifications.
Onjo, a prince from Goguryeo who was also the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo and the state of Baekje towards the end of the time. The new kingdom grew its territory to the southwest of the peninsula, and was at war with Goguryeo and China's commandos in the region. Baekje accepted Confucian ideas into its state beliefs system in 1390 CE and introduced the male-centric concept of filiopiety a tenet. Under the guise of filiopiety fathers were responsible for their families and they must be respected and obeyed by everyone, even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who ruled from 918 until 1392 CE established the Hangul alphabet built on the patterns created by the mouth when it was pronounced. This greatly improved communication and led to a boom in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also improved. It was during this period that the Samguk sagi, also known as 'History of the Three Kingdoms' first appeared in 1145 CE.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula was inhabited from Neolithic times until. Early evidence of human settlements can be seen in the form of cist graves that were lined with stone, and decorated with precious objects like amazonite jewelry buried with the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, constructed from huge single stones, are also widespread throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized during the first half of 1st millennium BCE. The peninsula was later under the control of a variety of states during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-635 CE) which included Baekje and Goguryeo. Moreover, the northern region of the peninsula was ruled by the Balhae kingdom, which most historians don't consider to be a proper Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). In all of them, Baekje was the most powerful state but its dynasty dissolved with the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE, leaving Baekje with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around the Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy thrived for some time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to cooperate in order to expand their territories. Silla with the aid of the Chinese eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters a post-crisis phase the way it develops appears to be in flux. Those who are appalled by the immense cost of the old system are urging an extensive program of liberalization in capital as well as labor and product markets. 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.
Policy and academic analysts are starkly divided as to the extent to which these two trends are driving Koreas development towards an entirely new model of economic governance. This article examines the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development that include democratic democracies that are not liberal (1945-60), democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). This article also highlights important factors that appear to influence these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have had success in promoting their beliefs to this population. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that almost three-quarters of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of the respondents, 41% stated that there was not enough evidence from science to support the theory; 39% said the theory did not align with their beliefs; and 17% said it was difficult to grasp. This level of disbelief is similar to that of the United States where a similar number do not believe that humans evolved from less advanced species of life.
In the past, most of the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on teaching college students and leading them to Christ. In 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 keynote speakers. The event was attended by a large number of church leaders and scientists.
The success of the event led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 of 1980. The inauguration meeting was widely covered in national newspapers, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo, and it received wide attention.
KACR started publishing a newsletter titled CREATION. In CREATION, the organization reported on its own activities and published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated a number of film strips and slides from ICR and also some books on creationism that were already published outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures at universities and churches throughout the country.
One example of a KACR success story took place at the KAIST university in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were so keen on the concept of creationism that they raised money and secured funding to construct an enlightened museum on campus.
In addition to its public activities, KACR publishes a bimonthly news magazine called CREATION which covers topics in creation science. It has also sponsored a series of lectures by ICR staff. It has also established local branches, which hold seminars and give talks to children in schools and other community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the latter half of the 19th century and beginning of 20th, Korea moved toward a Westernised lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements imported from overseas. Similarly, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern rock and roll and jazz. At this time the samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, were loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the beat of shaman drums and other instruments.
The economic crisis has formed Korea's new model of development. The primary challenge facing the new regime lies in the proper balance between state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also involves rethinking the incentives and monitoring policies that been a part of the system before 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, 에볼루션 Buyeo and other areas as well as migrant workers 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. This meant that it was constantly in conflict with Goguryeo, and the Chinese commanders on the border.
The decline of Silla in the late 8th and early 9th centuries saw strong local factions to emerge. Gungye was a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital and exerted control over part of the present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he relocated the capital to Wansanju. He became an adversary to Goguryeo.
However his rule was not long-lasting. 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 incorporated peacefully into Goryeo as an alternative state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the central government system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms period. From that point, the Korean peninsula was controlled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.
