Evolution Korea
In the debate over evolution, Korean scientists aren't taking their chances. The Society for Textbook Revise (STR) has been battling to have 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 education, still dominate the culture of the country. However, Korea is looking for an alternative development model.
Origins
The growth of Iron Age cultures brought more sophisticated states to the Korean Peninsula, such as Goguryeo and Baekje. They all developed their own culture that merged with the influence of their powerful neighbours and they also adopted various aspects of Chinese culture, especially Confucianism and Buddhism while shamanism remained to be practised too.
Goguryeo the first of the Korean kingdoms was the first to establish their own form of government. It established its authority in the late 1st century and established a king-centered rule system by the beginning of the 2nd century. It expanded its territory to Manchuria and the northern part of the Peninsula by a series wars that drove Han loyalists from the region.
It was during this time that a regional confederation grew up called Buyeo. Its founder Wang Geon was given the title king and his name was recorded down in the 13th-century Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms). Buyeo was renamed Goryeo, and thus 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 danced in masked dramas like tallori and sandaenori, and celebrated an annual festival in December. It was called Yeonggo.
Goryeo’s economy was boosted through rapid trade, including with the Song Dynasty of China. Traders from Central Asia, Arabia, Southeast Asia and Japan came to Byeongnando which was the entrance to the capital city of Gaeseong. Among the goods they brought were silk and medicinal herbs.
Around Related Homepag In the year 8,000 BCE, the Koreans began to establish permanent settlements and started cultivating cereal crops. They also developed pottery and polished stone tools and began to organize themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age lasted until the 12th century BC. At the time, Gija, a Shang dynasty prince from China, is said to have introduced high culture to Korea. Many Koreans believed, right up to the 20th century that Gija and Dangun gave Korea their people and basic culture.
Functions
Korea's previous model of development, which emphasized the state's capital accumulation and government intervention in industries and business as well as rapid growth in the economy, catapulting it from being one of the most deprived countries in the world to being among the top of OECD nations in only three years. The system was plagued by moral risks and even corruption. It was therefore not sustainable in an economy that is characterised by trade liberalization and democratization.
The current crisis has revealed the weaknesses of the previous paradigm, and it's likely that an alternative model will emerge to replace it. Chapters 3 and 4 look at the origin of Korea's government-business risk partnership and explain how the rise of business actors with an interest in maintaining this system prevented it from adopting fundamental reforms. These chapters, which focus on corporate governance and financial resources allocation, provide an in-depth analysis of the root factors that led to this crisis and suggest ways to proceed with reforms.
Chapter 5 explores the possibilities for Korea's post-crisis development paradigm evolution, exploring both the legacies of the past as well as the new trends triggered by the IT revolution. It also examines how these changes will affect Korea's political and social structures.
The main conclusion is that there are a variety of emerging trends that are altering the nature of power and will determine the future of the country. In spite of the fact that participation in politics in Korea is extremely restricted, new forms are emerging that override political parties and challenge them, changing the system of democracy in Korea.
Another important finding is that the power of the Korean elite is not as powerful as it was in the past, and that a large segment of society feels a sense of disconnection from the ruling class. This is a sign of the need for greater civic education and participation and new models of power-sharing. The chapter concludes with the statement that the success of Korea's new paradigm for development will be determined by how well these trends can be integrated and whether people are willing to make difficult choices.
Benefits
South Korea is the world's ninth largest economy, and the sixth fastest growing. It has an expanding middle class and a strong R&D base that drives innovation. In addition the government has recently increased investments in infrastructure projects to aid growth in the economy and to promote social equity.
In 2008, Lee Myung-bak's administration announced five indicators of leadership in an effort to create a new development system with the emphasis on changes and practicality. It aimed to streamline government administration and privatize public companies for greater efficiency, and overhaul administrative regulation.
Since the closing of the Cold War, South Korea has been pursuing a policy of economic integration with the rest of the region and even further. Exports of high-tech consumer electronics and advanced manufacturing technologies have become an important source of income. The government has also been encouraging Saemaeul Undong, which is a new movement of the community, to transform the country from one which is primarily agricultural to one that is focused on manufacturing.
The country has a great standard of living and provides numerous benefits to its employees such as maternity leave, and job stability. Employers are also required to purchase to accident insurance, which provides the cost of workplace-related illnesses or injuries. It is also typical for businesses to offer private medical insurance which provides coverage for illness that are not covered by the National Health Insurance.
In the end, South Korea has been thought of as a model for success for many of the developing countries around the world. However the global financial crisis that hit Asia in 1997 challenged this notion. The crisis shattered the myths about Asia's miracle economies, and prompted an overhaul of the role of government in regulating risky private activities.
It appears that Korea's destiny is not certain in the aftermath of these changes. A new generation of leaders have taken on the image of a "strong leader" and have begun to experiment with market-oriented policies. On the contrary, a strong domestic power base has made it difficult to make fundamental changes.
Disadvantages
The revival 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, one small group of creationist groups, led by a microbiologist named Bun-Sam Lim who is the president of the Society for Textbook Revise (STR)--is advocating for its removal from textbooks. STR argues teaching evolution promotes the idea of a "materialist atheism" and presents an "unhopeful worldview" for students. This could cause them to lose their faith in humanity.
The reasons behind this anti-evolution stance are 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. The one-sided populism that is backed by powerful conservative think groups, business interests, and other influential organizations, has also contributed to the public's distrust of the scientific community.
In the final analysis the study's findings about the widespread vulnerability highlight the need for targeted policies that can mitigate them preemptively. These insights will help Seoul to reach its goal of creating an urban landscape that is harmonious.
In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying vulnerable neighborhoods and occupants is essential to devise specific compassionate policy measures to improve their security and well-being. For example, the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Jjokbangs reflects socio-economic disparities that could increase the vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters.
To overcome this, South Korea requires a more inclusive and diverse civil society that brings together all communities to solve the most pressing problems of the city. This requires a fundamental shift in the structure and power of the institution of politics. The Blue House can mobilize a large bureaucracy and utilize 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 a huge influence to enforce his or her own vision on the rest of the country. This is a recipe for political polarization that can result in stagnation and polarization throughout the country.