South Korea's democratic system is vulnerable to populist tendencies. Nonetheless, it is healthier than what one might expect.
The country is looking for a new paradigm of development. The Confucian culture, which stresses respect for ancestors as well as gendered family relationships, continues to influence the society. There are signs that a secularist culture is emerging.Origins
In prehistoric times the ancestors of today's Koreans were able to survive by hunting and gathering wild foods. Around 10,000 years ago, they began to cultivate millet, beans and other crops. They also raised livestock and created furs. They established tribal states in Manchuria and later on the Korean peninsula. They also developed an industry of metalworking, making 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.
In 2333 BCE Gojoseon was founded on the southern part of the peninsula. The state adopted Chinese culture which included Confucian Philosophy and Buddhism. At this time the inhabitants of Buyeo became part of Gojoseon. Gojoseon was a hierarchical state where the monarch and other senior officials were members of the land aristocracy, 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 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 was the son of Jumong who was the founder of Goguryeo. The new kingdom grew its territory to the southwest of the peninsula and fought with Goguryeo and China's commandos in the region. Baekje included elements of Confucian thinking into its state belief system and made the male centered filiopiety idea an official doctrine in 1390 CE. Under the guise filiopiety, fathers were accountable to their families. They were expected to be obeyed by all and respected by their children and grandchildren.
Goryeo, who ruled from 918 to 1392 CE gave the world the Hangul alphabet based on the shapes made by the mouth during pronunciation. This greatly improved communication and led to an increase in the writing of Buddhist text. Woodblock printing and movable metal type were also refined. It was at this time that the Samguk sagi, or 'History Of the Three Kingdoms' was first written in 1145 CE.
Development in Korea
The Korean peninsula has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The earliest evidence for human settlements is evident in the form stone-lined cist graves with precious goods like amazonite jewellery being buried alongside the dead. Megalithic structures, referred to as dolmens, constructed from 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 then under the control of 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 occupied by the Balhae kingdom, which many historians do not believe 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 however, its dynasty ended with the fall of Goguryeo in 676 CE and left Baekje with its southern territories of Manchuria and the western region around Hwanghae Bay, while eastern Buyeo and the Gaya confederacy flourished for a short time.
The Unified Silla Kingdom then emerged and the three kingdoms began to work together to expand their territories. Silla with the help of the Chinese eventually conquered and unified the peninsula in 935.
As Korea enters the post-crisis era the development paradigm of the country appears to be changing. The people who are awed by the costs of the old systems are in favor of a comprehensive plan for liberalization of capital, labor and markets for products. On the other hand those who support the old system want to protect it by using nationalist sentiments and generating fear of job loss.
Academic and policy analysts remain starkly divided as to the extent to the extent that these two developments are driving Koreas shift towards a new model of economic governance. This article examines the latest developments by analyzing five phases of Korea's political evolution including illiberal democracy (1945-60) democratic authoritarianism (1961-72) and authoritarian exceptionalism (1972-87) democratic paternalism (1987-2001), and participatory democracy (2002 to present). This article also highlights important factors that appear to be shaping these processes.
Creationism in Korea
In South Korea, 26% of the population is Christian. Creationists have made strides in promoting their views to this segment. A survey in 2009 revealed that almost three-quarters of respondents did not believe in evolution. Of those, 41% claimed that there was not enough scientific evidence to support evolution; 39% said the theory was in contradiction to their religious beliefs and 17% said it was difficult to comprehend. This level of disbelief approaches that in the United States, where a similar number of people are not convinced that humans evolved from less advanced species of life.In the past, most of the anti-evolutionist movement in Korea was focused on teaching college students and bringing 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 Giss of ICR were the featured speakers. This event drew an audience of scientists, professors and church leaders.
The success of this event resulted in the creation of the Korea Association of Creation Research (KACR) on January 31 1981. The inaugural event was widely reported in the national press, including The Korea Times and Chosun Ilbo and attracted a lot of attention.
KACR began 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 several films and slides from ICR, as well as several books on creationism that were in print outside of Korea. KACR members gave lectures across the country in churches and universities.
A KACR success was seen at the KAIST University in Seoul. Students at KAIST in Seoul were interested in creationism, they raised money and secured funding to construct a small creationist museum on campus.
In addition to its work, KACR has published a bimonthly magazine, CREATION. The magazine covers subjects in the creation science. It also hosted a series of lectures by ICR staff. It also has a network of local branch offices that host talks and seminars to children and other community groups.
Evolution in South Korea
In the late nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, Korea began to adopt an increasingly Westernized lifestyle. The traditional hanbok, or Korean dress, was replaced to miniskirts and other fashion elements imported from abroad. In the same way, traditional Korean music styles were replaced with 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 drummers and other musical instruments.
Korea's new development paradigm is being created in the wake of the economic crisis. The primary challenge for the new regime is to find the right balance between market-oriented and state-led policies. It also involves altering incentives, monitoring, or disciplining schemes which have shaped the system prior to the crisis. 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 regions, as well as immigrants from northern China. In the early 4th century, Baekje was a major regional power, and expanded its territory as far as Mahan in the north and Jeollanam-do in the south. As a result, it was in 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 an eminent 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. Then, he moved the capital to Wansanju and became a rival to Goguryeo.
The rule of his was, however, short-lived. Wang Geon, a powerful local leader who defeated Gungye in 935, and then united Goryeo, Baekje, and Silla, later incorporated Baekje into Goryeo peacefully as a successor. Additionally, Wang Geon introduced fundamental reforms and strengthened a central rule system. This marked the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. From then on, the Korean peninsula was ruled by the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Three Kingdoms period, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla gradually developed into powerful states in Manchuria and on the peninsula.
