Evolution Korea
In the fight over evolution, Korean scientists aren't taking their chances. The Society for Textbook Revise has been fighting to remove the Archaeopteryx as well as horses and other evolutionist icons from textbooks.
Confucian practices, with their emphasis on success in the world and their 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 culture brought more sophisticated states such as Goguryeo Baekje and Silla to the Korean peninsula. They all developed a unique cultural style that blended with the influence from their powerful neighbors. They also embraced aspects of Chinese culture, including Confucianism, Buddhism and shamanism.
Goguryeo the first of the Korean kingdoms was the first kingdom to impose their own form of government. It consolidated its authority at the end of the 1st century and established a king-centered ruling system by the early 2nd century. Through a series wars it wiped out the factions that were loyal to the Han dynasty from the north of the peninsula and expanded its territory to Manchuria too.
It was during this time that a regional confederation was formed called Buyeo. In the Samguk yusa of the 13th century Wang Geon's name was listed as king. Buyeo was changed to Goryeo and hence the name Korea. Goryeo was a major commercial state and a centre of learning. They raised goats, sheep and other livestock and made furs from the animals. They wrote poetry and dance-dramas with masks like sandaenori and tallori and they celebrated an annual festival known as Yeonggo in December.
Goryeo’s economy was boosted through rapid trade, including with the Song Dynasty in China. Traders from Central Asia, Arabia, Southeast Asia and Japan came to Byeongnando, the gateway to Gaeseong, the capital city. Gaeseong. Silk and medicinal herbs were among the items they brought.
Around 8,000 BCE Around 8,000 BCE, the Koreans started to establish permanent settlements and began to cultivate cereal crops. They also developed polished stone tools, pottery and started organising themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age continued until the 12th Century BC. At this time, Gija, a Shang dynasty prince from China is believed to have introduced high-culture to Korea. Many Koreans believed, right up to the 20th century, that Gija and Dangun gave Korea their people a basic culture.
Functions
Korea's old development model that emphasized the importance of state-led capital accumulation and government intervention in industry and business, contributed to rapid economic growth that catapulted it from one of the world's poorest nations to the ranks of OECD countries within three decades. However, the system was filled with corruption and moral hazard which made it unsustainable in a world economy of trade liberalization, openness and democratic change.
The current crisis has exposed the weaknesses of the current model, and it is expected that a new model will be developed to replace it. Chapters 3 and 4 examine the origin of Korea's government-business risk partnership, and demonstrate how the rise of business actors with an interest in the preservation of this system prevented it from adopting fundamental reforms. These chapters, which are focused on corporate governance and financial resources allocation, provide an in-depth examination of the reasons for this crisis and suggest ways to move forward with reforms.
Chapter 5 explores the possible paths for Korea's post-crisis evolution of the development paradigm and examines both the legacy of the past and the new trends created by the IT revolution. It also examines how these trends will affect Korea's political and social structures.
A significant finding is that a variety of emerging trends are changing the power structure in Korea, and it is these developments that will determine the course of the country's future. Despite the fact that political participation in Korea is still extremely limited New forms of power are emerging which override political parties and challenge them, thereby transforming the country's democratic system.
Another important point is that the influence and power of the Korean elite has decreased. A large segment of the society feels disconnected from the ruling class. This fact points to a need for more efforts to educate and participate in civic life, as well as for new models of power sharing. The chapter concludes by stating that the success of Korea's new paradigm for development will be determined by how these trends can be combined and whether people are willing to make difficult choices.
Benefits
South Korea has the ninth largest economy in the world and the sixth fastest-growing. It has a growing middle class and an extensive R&D infrastructure that drives innovation. Additionally the government has recently increased investments in infrastructure projects to support growth in the economy and to promote social equity.
In 2008, Lee Myung Bak's administration announced five leading indicator in an effort to create a development system that emphasized changes and practicality. The administration made efforts to streamline government organization and privatize public corporations for greater efficiency, and overhaul the administrative regulations.
Since the end of Cold War, South Korea is pursuing a strategy for the integration of its economy with the rest of the world and outside the region. Its exports of advanced manufacturing technology as well as high-tech consumer electronics have become a major source of income. The government is also promoting Saemaeul Undong, which is a new community movement, to transform the country from one which is primarily agricultural to one that is focused on manufacturing.
The country has a high standard of living and provides numerous benefits to its employees such as maternity leave, and job stability. Employers are also required to sign up to accident insurance, which covers the costs associated with work-related illness or injury. In addition, it is common for companies to provide private medical insurance that offers insurance for illnesses not covered by the National Health Insurance.
South Korea is viewed as a success model for many developing countries across the globe. However the global financial crisis that hit Asia in 1997 challenged this notion. The crisis shattered conventional wisdom about Asia's miraculous economies and led to a fundamental reappraisal of the role of the state in regulating the risky activities of private business.
It seems that Korea's fate remains uncertain in the following changes. A new generation of leaders have adopted the image of a "strong leader" and are beginning to experiment with market-oriented policies. A powerful domestic power base makes it difficult to implement any fundamental change.
Advantages
The reemergence of the creationists is a major obstacle for Korean science's efforts to inform people about evolution. While the majority of Koreans support teaching evolution in schools, a small group of creationist groups--led by a microbiologist called Bun-Sam Lim, the head of the Society for Textbook Revise (STR)--is advocating for its removal from textbooks. STR claims that teaching evolution promotes "atheist materialism" and paints an "unhopeful" perspective for students, which could cause them to lose faith in humanity.
The roots of anti-evolution opinions are a complex and diverse. 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. Additionally the one-sidedness of the government, bolstered by powerful conservative business interests and think tanks which has led to public disdain for the scientific community.
The wide-ranging weaknesses discovered in this study point to the urgent need for targeted policy interventions that can reduce the risks. As Seoul continues to pursue its goal of becoming a more cohesive urban environment, these insights can be used to inspire a unified push for greater inclusivity in its policies.
In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, pinpointing the most vulnerable areas and their inhabitants is crucial to develop detailed and compassionate policies to ensure their safety and welfare. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Jjokbangs, for example, reflects socio-economic disparities which can increase vulnerability to both natural and man-made catastrophes.
To overcome this, South Korea needs a more inclusive civil society that can bring all communities together to address the most pressing issues facing the city. This requires a fundamental shift in the structure and power of the institution of politics. 에볼루션코리아 can mobilize a large bureaucracy, and also use the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, and the intelligence bureau to exert political influence. These agencies aren't under the scrutiny of institutions of the parliament or independent inspection agents. This gives the president the ability to dictate their own vision on the rest the country. This is a recipe that can result in polarization and stagnation of the country.