Evolution Korea
In the debate over evolution, Korean scientists aren't taking their chances. The Society for Textbook Revise (STR) has been fighting to get the Archaeopteryx and horses removed from textbooks, claiming they are common symbols of evolutionism.
Confucian traditions, with their emphasis on global success and the value of learning, still dominate the country's culture. However, Korea is in search of a new development paradigm.
Origins
The development of Iron Age cultures brought more sophisticated states to the Korean Peninsula, like Goguryeo and Baekje. They all developed their own culture that merged with the influence of their powerful neighbors and they also adopted aspects of Chinese culture, especially Confucianism and Buddhism however shamanism continued to be practised too.
Goguryeo the first of the Korean kingdoms, was the first to establish their own system of government. It consolidated its power in the 1st century and established a king-centered governing system by the early 2nd century. Through a series of wars it eliminated the factions that were loyal to the Han dynasty from the north of the peninsula. It expanded its territory into Manchuria too.
During this period the regional confederation of Buyeo was formed. Its founder Wang Geon was given the title of king and his name was written down in the 13th-century Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms). Buyeo was renamed Goryeo, and thus the name was adopted by Korea. Goryeo had a strong commercial and economic system, and was a centre for learning. They raised sheep, goats as well as other livestock, and made furs from them. They wrote poetry and masked dance-dramas such as tallori and sandaenori and they held a festival every year called Yeonggo in December.
Goryeo’s economy was boosted through brisk trade, including with the Song Dynasty of China. Byeongnando was the main entry point to Gaeseong which was the capital of Gaeseong. Traders came from Central Asia, Arabia and Southeast Asia. Silk and medicinal herbs were among the products they brought.
Around around 8,000 BCE Around 8,000 BCE, the Koreans started to establish permanent settlements and began to cultivate cereal crops. They also created polished stone tools, pottery and began to organize themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age lasted until the 12th century BC. Around this time, Gija, a Shang dynasty prince from China is believed to have introduced high-culture to Korea. In the 20th century, many Koreans believed that Dangun and Gija gave Korea its people and their traditional culture and their basic culture, respectively.
Functions
Korea's previous model of development, which emphasized the state's capital accumulation and government intervention in industries and business, contributed to an explosive growth in its economy and a rapid rise from one of the most deprived countries in the world to being among the top of OECD nations in a mere three years. This model was rife with moral hazard and corruption that was outright. It was therefore unsustainable in a world economy characterized by liberalization, trade, and the process of democratization.
The current crisis has revealed the weaknesses of the previous paradigm, and it's likely that an alternative model will be developed in its place. Chapters 3 and 4 look at the origin of Korea's government-business risk partnership, and demonstrate how the emergence of business actors with an interest in the preservation of the system impeded it from making fundamental changes. These chapters, which concentrate on corporate governance and financial resource allocation, provide an in-depth examination of the factors that led to this crisis, and suggest strategies to implement reforms.
Chapter 5 explores the possible paths for Korea's post-crisis evolution of the development paradigm by examining both the legacy of the past, as well as the new trends triggered by the IT revolution. It also analyzes the implications of these developments for Korea's social and political structures.
에볼루션게이밍 is that a variety of emerging trends are changing the power structure in Korea and it is these trends that will determine the direction of the country's future. For instance, despite fact that political participation is still extremely restricted in Korea, new ways of political activism bypass and challenge political parties, thus transforming country's democracy.
Another crucial finding is that the power of the Korean elite isn't as great as it once was, and that a large portion of society feels a sense of being disconnected from the ruling class. This is a sign of the need for greater efforts to educate and participate in civic life, as well as for new models of power sharing. Ultimately, the chapter concludes that the success or failure of Korea's development paradigm will be determined by how these new ideas are incorporated with the ability to make tough choices.
Benefits
South Korea has the ninth largest economy in the world, and the sixth fastest-growing. It has an expanding middle class and an extensive R&D infrastructure which drives innovation. Additionally, the government has recently increased its investment in infrastructure projects to support economic growth and promote social equity.
In 2008, the Lee Myung-bak administration released five indicators of leadership in a bid to create a new development system with the emphasis on changes and practicality. The administration made efforts to streamline government administration, privatize public companies with greater efficiency, and reform the administrative regulations.
Since the end of Cold War, South Korea pursues a plan of integration of its economy with the rest of the world and outside the region. Exports of high-tech consumer electronics as well as advanced manufacturing technologies have become a major source of income. In addition, the government has been encouraging the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement) initiative, which has transformed the country from an agricultural one to one that is focused on manufacturing.
The country also enjoys an excellent standard of living and provides many benefits for employees, such as the right to maternity leave and job security. Employers are also required to subscribe to accident insurance, which provides the cost of workplace-related illnesses or injuries. It is also typical to have companies offer private medical insurance plans to protect against illnesses that are not covered by National Health Insurance.
In the end, South Korea has been considered a model of success for many of the developing countries around the world. However, the global financial crisis that struck Asia in 1997 challenged this notion. The crisis shattering the conventional wisdom about Asia's miracle economies and resulted in a radical rethinking of the role of the state in managing risky private economic activities.
It appears that Korea's future is still uncertain in the aftermath of these changes. On the other side, a new era of leaders has adopted the image of being a "strong" leader and begun to experiment with market-oriented policy. On the other hand, a strong domestic power base has made it difficult to implement radical change.
Disadvantages
The reemergence and influence of creationists is a major hurdle for Korean science in its efforts to educate the public about evolution. While the majority of Koreans support the teaching of evolution in schools, some creationist groups, led by a microbiologist named Bun-Sam Lim, the head of the Society for Textbook Revise (STR)--is pushing for its deletion from textbooks. STR claims that teaching evolution encourages an "materialist atheism" and reflects an "unhopeful worldview" for students. This could cause students 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. In addition the one-sidedness of the government, supported by powerful conservative think tanks and business interests which has led to public disdain for the scientific community.
In the end the study's findings about widespread vulnerabilities highlight a need for targeted interventions that can mitigate them preemptively. These insights will help Seoul to achieve its goal of creating an urban landscape that is cohesive.
In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, pinpointing vulnerable neighborhoods and their occupants is essential for crafting detailed and compassionate policies to ensure their safety and welfare. For instance, the high effect of the pandemic on Jjokbangs reflects socio-economic disparities which can increase vulnerability to natural and human-made catastrophes.
To overcome this, South Korea needs a more inclusive civil society that can bring all communities together to tackle the city's most pressing challenges. This requires a fundamental change in the structure of the institution, starting with the power of the presidency. At present, the Blue House is able to mobilize a huge bureaucracy as well as strategically leverage the Supreme Prosecutor's Office and intelligence bureau, which all lack any checks from parliamentary bodies or independent inspection agencies. This gives the president a huge influence to enforce his or her views on the rest of the nation. This recipe could lead to polarization and stagnation of the country.