Evolution Korea
When it comes to the battle over evolution, Korean scientists aren't taking their chances. The Society for Textbook Revise (STR) has been fighting to get the Archaeopteryx and horses taken out of textbooks, saying they are typical icons of evolutionism.
Confucian practices, with their emphasis on success in the world and high importance of learning continue to dominate the culture of the country. But Korea is in search of an alternative development model.
Origins
The development of Iron Age cultures brought more sophisticated states to the Korean Peninsula, such as Goguryeo and Baekje. They all developed a distinct culture that was influenced by the influence of their powerful neighbours and they also adopted aspects of Chinese culture, particularly Confucianism and Buddhism while shamanism remained to be practised too.
Goguryeo, the first of the Korean kingdoms was the first kingdom to impose their own form of government. It established a king-centered system of government in the early 2nd Century. It expanded its territory to Manchuria and the northern part of the Peninsula by a series wars that drove the Han loyalists out of the region.
It was during this period that a regional confederation emerged named Buyeo. Its founder Wang Geon was given the title king and his name was written down in the 13th century Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms). Buyeo was renamed Goryeo and, consequently, the name was adopted by Korea. Goryeo was a thriving commercial state and also a place of learning. They raised sheep, goats and other livestock and created furs from the animals. They wrote poetry and masked dance-dramas like sandaenori or tallori and they celebrated an annual festival known as Yeonggo in December.
The economy of Goryeo was stimulated by the booming trade with other nations, including the Song Dynasty of China. Byeongnando was the gateway to Gaeseong which was the capital of Gaeseong. Traders came from Central Asia, Arabia and Southeast Asia. Among the goods they brought were medicinal herbs and silk.
Around 8000 BCE Around 8,000 BCE, the Koreans began to establish permanent settlements and started cultivating cereal crops. They also developed pottery and polished stone tools and started organising themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age lasted until the 12th century BC. Around this time Gija was a prince of the Shang dynasty of China was believed to have introduced a high culture to Korea. Many Koreans believed, up until the 20th century, that Gija and Dangun gave Korea their people and their basic culture.
Functions
Korea's old development model that stressed the importance of capital accumulation by the state and government intervention in industries and business, led to rapid economic growth that catapulted it from one of the world's poorest countries to the ranks of OECD countries in three decades. This system was fraught with moral risks and even corruption. It was therefore unsustainable in an economy characterized by liberalization, trade and democratization.
The current crisis has exposed the weaknesses of the current paradigm and it is likely that a new model will replace it. Chapters 3 and 4 examine the genesis of Korea's business-government risk partnership and explain how the emergence of economic actors who have an interest in maintaining this model prevented it from making fundamental changes. By focusing on corporate governance and allocation of financial resources the chapters provide an in-depth analysis of the root causes of the crisis and point towards ways to move forward through reforms.
Chapter 5 examines possible avenues for Korea's post-crisis evolution of the development paradigm by examining both the legacy of the past and the new trends triggered by the IT revolution. 무료 에볼루션 examines how these changes will affect Korea's political and social structures.
The major finding is that there are several emerging trends that are altering the nature of power and will affect the future of the country. For instance, despite the fact that participation in politics is still highly restricted in Korea, new forms of political activism are able to bypass and challenge political parties, thus transforming the country's democracy.
Another important finding is that the influence and power of the Korean elite has diminished. A large segment of the society feels disconnected from the ruling class. This fact indicates the need for more civic participation and education as well as new ways of power sharing. The chapter concludes that the success or failure of Korea's development model will depend on how these new developments can be incorporated into the ability to make tough choices.
Benefits
South Korea is the world's ninth-largest economy and sixth fastest growing. It has an expanding middle class and an extensive R&D infrastructure which drives innovation. Additionally the government has recently increased investment in infrastructure projects to help growth in the economy and to promote social equity.
In 2008, the Lee Myung-bak administration released five leading indicators in a bid to establish a new system of development with the emphasis on changes and practicality. The administration made efforts to streamline government operations and privatize public corporations with greater efficiency, and also to reform administrative regulations.
Since the conclusion of the Cold War, South Korea pursues a strategy of the integration of its economy with the rest and beyond the region. Exports of high-tech consumer electronics and advanced manufacturing technologies have become a major source of income. In addition, the government has been pushing the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement) initiative, transforming the country from an agricultural society to one that is focused on manufacturing.
The country has a high quality of life and offers many benefits to its employees, including maternity leave and job stability. Employers are also required to purchase accident insurance that covers payments associated with work-related illness or injury. It is also common for companies to provide private medical insurance that provides insurance for illnesses not covered by National Health Insurance.
South Korea is viewed as a success model for many developing nations across the globe. The global financial crisis of 1997, which swept through Asia has challenged this perception. The crisis shattering the conventional wisdom about Asia's miracle economies, and led to a fundamental reappraisal of the role played by the state in managing the risky private sector economic activities.
It appears that Korea's future is not certain in the wake of these changes. A new generation of leaders have embraced the image of a "strong leader" and are beginning to explore market-oriented policies. On the contrary, a strong domestic power base has made it difficult to implement fundamental changes.
Disadvantages
The reemergence of the creationists is a major obstacle to Korean science's efforts in educating the public about evolution. The majority of Koreans support teaching evolution to students however, a small section led by Bun-Sam Lim (the head of the Society for Textbook Revise, STR) is advocating for its removal from textbooks. STR believes that teaching evolution is promoting the idea of a "materialist atheism" and portrays a "unhopeful worldview" for students. This can cause students to lose faith in humanity.
The causes of this anti-evolutionary sentiment are a bit ambiguous and varied. Some researchers suggest that it is due to religious belief, while others point to an increasing prevalence of anti-intellectualism, which has been exacerbated by growing political elite fragmentation along ideologies, regions, class, and gender. The one-sided populism, supported by powerful conservative think organizations, business interests and other influential groups, has also contributed to the public's distrust of the scientific community.
Ultimately, the widespread weaknesses identified in this study highlight an urgent need for targeted policy interventions to preemptively mitigate these vulnerabilities. As Seoul continues to pursue its goal of becoming a more cohesive urban landscape, these findings serve as an impetus for the creation of a united push for more inclusivity in its policies.
In the COVID-19 case, identifying most vulnerable neighborhoods and their inhabitants will be crucial to drafting precise, compassionate policies to improve their lives and safety. For example, the disproportionate impact of the disease on Jjokbangs reflects socio-economic disparities that can compound the vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters.
To overcome this, South Korea requires a more inclusive and diverse civil society that can bring together all communities to tackle the most pressing issues of the city. This requires a fundamental shift in the structure and power of institutional politics. The Blue House can mobilize a large bureaucracy, and use the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, and the intelligence bureau to exert political influence. These agencies are not under the scrutiny of the parliamentary bodies or independent inspection agencies. This gives the president the power to impose their vision on the rest of the nation. This is a recipe that can result in polarization and stagnation of the country.