South Korea's democracy is prone to populist tendencies. However, it is more stable than one would expect.
The country is seeking a new paradigm of development. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors and as and gender-specific family relationships, continues to be influential in the society. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend emerging.Origins
In the early days the ancestors of the modern Koreans were capable of surviving 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 another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also established a metallurgy business, making iron tools, including bronze. They traded with other nations and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan, as well as styles of art as well as a written language and paper making.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon came into existence in the southern region of the peninsula. This state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture, including Confucian philosophy. During this period the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical state where the monarch and senior officials were from the aristocracy of the land, whereas the majority of the population was peasants. The state collected taxes from these people, and sometimes forced them to join the army or to build fortifications.
At the end of the period, the state of Baekje was established by Onjo who was a prince of Goguryeo and was the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. This new kingdom expanded into the southwest part of the peninsula, and was at war against Goguryeo's commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje took on Confucian ideas in its state beliefs system in 1390 CE, and established the male-centric notion of filiopiety into a doctrine. In the name of filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They must be obeyed by all and admired by even their grandchildren and children.
Goryeo, who would rule from 918 until 1392 CE introduced the world to the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth when it was pronounced. This dramatically improved communication between people, and led to an explosion in the writing of Buddhist texts. Additionally, movable metallic type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was improved. In 1145 CE, the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was the first to be recorded.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times. Early evidence for human settlements is evident in the form of stone-lined cist graves with precious objects such as amazonite jewellery being buried along with the dead. Megalithic structures, known as dolmens and built of large stones in a single piece, are widespread throughout the country.
In the first half of the 1st millennium BCE, Gojoseon established itself as the first recognisable political state. The peninsula was ruled by various states in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC- 635 CE) including Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla. The northern region of the peninsula was for a while occupied by the Balhae Kingdom that historians do believe to be a real Korean state.
After the Three Kingdoms arose the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, or Several States Period. Baekje is the most powerful of these states, was diminished by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE) leaving only its southern territories in Manchuria and the western region around Hwanghae Bay. Eastern Buyeo as well as the Gaya confederacy, thrived for a short period of time.
The Unified Silla kingdom then emerged, and the three kingdoms began to work together to expand their territorial holdings. In the final, Silla, with significant Chinese assistance, defeated the other states and unified the peninsula in 935 CE.
As Korea is entering a post-crisis period the way it develops appears to be in flux. The people who are awed by the enormous cost of the old system advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and markets for products. On the other hand the people who support the old system try to keep it alive through nationalist sentiments, as well as by exaggerating fears about possible job loss.
Analysts and academics are divided about the extent to which Korea's growth is being driven by these two trends. This article focuses on the five phases of the Korean evolution in terms of its political development including democratically illiberal democracies (1945-60) democratic autoritarianism (1961-72) authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-1877), democratic paternalism (2001-2002) and participatory democracy (2002). This article also identifies some significant factors that may be influencing these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made strides in promoting their views to this group. A survey conducted in 2009 revealed that nearly a third of respondents did not believe in the theory of evolution. Of the respondents, 41% believed that there was insufficient scientific evidence to support the theory 39% of respondents said it contradicted their religious beliefs. 17 percent said they didn't comprehend it. The level of doubt is similar to the United States where a similar percentage do not believe humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolutionist campaign in Korea was primarily focused on teaching 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 Gish of ICR as the featured speakers. The event attracted a large audience of professors, scientists, and church leaders.
The success of the event led to the formation of the Korea Association of Creation Research on January 31 in 1980. The meeting was covered extensively in the national press, including The Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo and The Korea Times.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter called CREATION, in which it covered its activities and also published articles on the scientific evidence supporting creationism. It also translated several films and slides from ICR and a few books on creationism that were already in print outside of Korea. KACR members lectured throughout the country at universities and churches.
One instance of a KACR success story was at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, enough students were fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised the funds and support needed to build a small museum on campus showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly publication called CREATION. The magazine covers a variety of topics that pertain to the science of creation. It also sponsored a series lectures by ICR staff. It has also created branches in local offices that host talks and seminars to children and community groups.
Changes in South Korea
In the late nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt an increasingly Westernized lifestyle. The hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, gave way to miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements imported from abroad. Similarly, traditional Korean music styles were replaced by modern jazz and rock and roll. During this time the famous samulnori or masked dance dramas, were popular with the general public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and other instruments of music.
Korea's new development paradigm is being formed in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The main challenge for the new regime is the balance between the state-led economic policies and market-based ones. It also requires a change in the incentives and monitoring schemes that have been a part of the pre-crisis system. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Established by Onjo, prince of Goguryeo and the third son of Jumong, Baekje was established jointly by people living along the Hangang River, those from Buyeo and other areas and people from northern China. In the early 4th century, 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 at the border.
The decline of Silla in the 8th and early 9th centuries allowed strong local factions to emerge. Gungye was a nobleman from Later Baekje who established a kingdom in Songak with Songak as its capital. He controlled a part of today's Jeolla province and Chungcheong. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju. He became an adversary to Goguryeo.
However the rule of his was short-lived. After Gungye's defeat, he was overthrown by a powerful local leader Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935, Later Baekje was peacefully integrated into Goryeo as an alternative state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms, and strengthened the centrally-run system. This was the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From that point on the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Goguryeo Baekje Silla slowly developed into powerful states on the peninsula and in Manchuria.
