South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist impulses. It's still more stable than we had hoped for.
The country is looking for a new development paradigm. A Confucian culture that stresses respect for ancestors and gendered family relations continues to influence the society. There are signs of a secularist cultural trend forming.
Origins
In the prehistoric era, the ancestors of modern Koreans lived on hunting and gathering wild food. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to grow crops including millet and beans. They also raised livestock and even made furs. These people formed tribal states one after another in Manchuria and on the Korean peninsula. They also developed an industry for metalworking, which produced bronze tools, and later iron tools. They also traded with other countries and introduced celadon and block printing to Japan and also styles of art as well as a written language and paper making.
Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE on the southern peninsula. The state embraced Buddhism and adopted Chinese culture including Confucian philosophy. During this period the people of Buyeo joined Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical society that included a monarch as well as high-ranking officials were drawn from the landed aristocracy, while the majority of the population were peasants. The state imposed taxes on these citizens, and often required them to serve in the army or work on government projects such as building fortifications.
At the close of the 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 was at war against the Goguryeo commanderies and China's in the area. Baekje included elements of Confucian beliefs into its official beliefs and made the male centered concept of filiopiety as a law in 1390 CE. Under the cover of filiopiety fathers were accountable to their families. They were expected to be obeyed by everyone and respected 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 greatly improved communication and led to an increase in the writing of Buddhist text. Additionally, movable metal type printing was introduced, and woodblock printing was refined. In 1145 CE, the Samguk Sagi or "History of the Three Kingdoms" was recorded for the first time.
Evolution in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been habitable since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence for human settlements is evident in the form stone-lined cist graves with precious goods like amazonite jewelry being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures known as dolmens, made of huge single stones, are also common throughout the country.
Gojoseon was the first political state to be recognized in 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. Additionally, the northern part of the peninsula was occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which most historians do not consider to be a valid Korean state.
Following the Three Kingdoms, several smaller states emerged during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period, or Several States Period (yeolgugsidae). Baekje is the most powerful of these states was diminished by the Goguryeo's fall (676 CE) leaving only its southern regions in Manchuria and the its 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 cooperate to expand their territories. Silla with the aid of the Chinese eventually conquered and united the peninsula in 935.
As Korea is entering the post-crisis phase the development paradigm of the country appears to be in flux. People who are shocked by the enormous costs of the old systems advocate a comprehensive program of liberalization of labor, capital and markets for products. On the other hand, supporters of the old system attempt to protect it by promoting nationalist sentiments and by exaggerating fears about possible job loss.
Academic and policy analysts remain starkly divided as to the extent to which these two trends are driving Koreas evolution towards a new model of economic governance. This article examines the five phases of Korea's evolution in terms of its political development: 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 important factors that appear to be influencing these developments.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26 percent of the population is Christian. Creationists have succeeded in promoting their views among this group. A survey in 2009 revealed that nearly one third of respondents do not believe in evolution. Of the respondents, 41% stated that there wasn't enough scientific evidence to support evolution 39% of respondents said that the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs and 17% said it was difficult to comprehend. This level of doubt is similar to that in the United States, where a similar number of people do not accept that humans evolved from less advanced forms of life.
In the past, the anti-evolution movement in Korea was focused on educating students and in bringing Christ to them. An increase in the interest in creation science occurred in the year 1980, when there was an all-day seminar that was held during the World Evangelization Crusade in Seoul which included Drs. Henry Morris and Duane Giss of ICR were the keynote speakers. This event attracted a huge number of church leaders and scientists.
The success of this event led to the founding of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31 1981. The inauguration meeting was widely covered in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and also received wide attention.
KACR began publishing a monthly newsletter, CREATION, in which it reported on its activities and published articles about scientific evidence for creationism. It also translated a number of slides and film strips from ICR and also some books on the subject that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members also gave talks in universities and churches across the country.
One instance of a KACR success story occurred at the KAIST university in Seoul. There, enough students were fascinated by the concept of creationism that they raised enough money and support needed to build a small museum on campus showing creationist models of fossils and other exhibits.
In addition to its activities, 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 of lectures by ICR staff. It also has branches in local offices that offer talks and seminars to schoolchildren and other community groups.
The evolution of South Korea
In the latter part of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt an increasingly Westernized lifestyle. The traditional Korean dress, the hanbok was replaced by miniskirts, as well as other fashion elements from abroad. Similar to the way traditional Korean music styles were replaced with modern rock and roll and jazz. During this time, the famous samulnori, or masked dance-dramas, became loved by the public. These dramatic pieces were performed to the accompaniment of shaman drums and other musical instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being developed in the aftermath of the economic crisis. The new regime's main challenge is to find the right balance between state-led economic policies as well as market-based ones. It also requires changing incentives, monitoring or discipline schemes that have shaped the system prior to the crisis. These issues are addressed in Chapters 3 and 4.
Founded 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 immigrants 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. Consequently, it came into frequent conflict with Goguryeo and the Chinese commanderies across the border.
The decline of Silla between the 8th and 9th centuries led to the rise of powerful local factions. Gungye, a noble from Later Baekje, established a kingdom with Songak as its capital and exerted control over part of present-day Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces. Later, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival of Goguryeo.
However his rule was not long-lasting. After Gungye was defeated by a powerful local leader Wang Geon, who united Goryeo with Baekje and Silla in 935. Later Baekje was incorporated peacefully into Goryeo as a successor state. Wang Geon also introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened the centralized ruling system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms period. The Korean peninsula was later 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.