Evolution Korea
In the debate over evolution, Korean scientists aren't taking their chances. The Society for Textbook Revise (STR) has been fighting to have the Archaeopteryx and horses removed from textbooks, claiming they are typical icons of evolutionism.
Confucian traditions with their emphasis on success in the world and high value of education still dominate the culture of the country. But Korea is searching for the new model of development.
Origins
The development of Iron Age cultures brought more sophisticated states to the Korean Peninsula, including Goguryeo and Baekje. They all developed a unique 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 was the first of these kingdoms to impose its own form of government on the Korean people. It consolidated its power at the end of the 1st century and established a king-centered governing system in the 2nd century. 에볼루션 코리아 expanded its territory into Manchuria and the northern part of the Peninsula through an array of wars that drove Han loyalists from the region.
In this time the regional confederation of Buyeo was formed. 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 changed to Goryeo, and thus the name was adopted by Korea. Goryeo was a great commercial state as well as a center of learning. They raised sheep, goats and other livestock and made furs from the animals. They performed masked dance-dramas like tallori and sandaenori. They also held a festival every year in December called Yeonggo.
Goryeo's economy was boosted by brisk trade with other countries as well as the Song dynasty of 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 products they brought.
Around 8,000 BCE The Koreans began to establish permanent settlements and cultivating cereal crops. They also invented pottery and polished stone tools, and began to organize themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age continued until the 12th century BC. At this time Gija was a prince of the Shang dynasty in China, purportedly introduced a high culture to Korea. Many Koreans believed, up until the 20th century, that Gija and Dangun gave Korea their people and basic culture.
Functions
Korea's old development paradigm, which emphasized the role of capital accumulation by the state and government intervention in industries and business, contributed to rapid economic growth, which took it from being one of the world's poorest economies to the ranks of OECD countries in just three decades. This model was rife with moral hazard and corruption that was outright. It was therefore unsustainable in an economy that is characterized by liberalization, trade and democratic change.
The current crisis has exposed the weaknesses of the current paradigm and it is likely that a new model will be developed to replace it. The chapters 3 and 4 examine the roots of Korea's government and business risk partnership and demonstrate how the emergence economic actors with an desire to maintain this system prevented Korea from making fundamental changes. By focusing on corporate governance and the allocation of financial resources, these chapters provide an in-depth analysis of the causes of the crisis and provide suggestions to the best ways to move forward through reforms.
Chapter 5 examines the possibilities for Korea's post-crisis development paradigm evolution and examines both the legacy of the past and the new trends brought about by the IT revolution. It also focuses on how these changes will impact Korea's current social and political structures.
One of the most significant findings is that a number of emerging trends are transforming the nature of power in Korea and it is these trends that will determine the course of the future of the country. For example, despite the fact that political participation is still extremely restricted in Korea new methods of political activism are able to bypass and challenge political parties, thereby transforming the democratic system in the country.
Another important fact is that the influence and power of the Korean elite has diminished. A large section of the population feels disengaged from the ruling class. This fact indicates the need for more civic education and participation as well as new ways 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 if 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 large and growing middle class and also a strong research and development base that is driving innovation. In addition the government has recently increased its investment in infrastructure projects to help growth in the economy and to promote social equity.
In 2008, Lee Myung Bak's administration released five indicators as an attempt to establish an economic system that was focused on changes and practicality. It made efforts to streamline government operations and privatize public corporations with more efficiency, and to overhaul administrative regulations.
Since the conclusion of the Cold War, South Korea pursues a plan of the integration of its economy with the rest and beyond the region. The exports of advanced manufacturing technology as well as high-tech consumer electronic products have become a significant source of income. Additionally, the government has been promoting the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement) initiative, which has transformed the country from an agricultural one to one focused on manufacturing.
The country also enjoys a high standard of living and provides various benefits to employees, such as the right to maternity leave and job security. Employers are also required to purchase accident insurance, which covers payments for work-related illnesses or injuries. Likewise, it is common for companies to offer private medical insurance that offers coverage for illness not covered by the National Health Insurance.
South Korea is viewed as an example of success for many developing nations around the world. However, the global financial crisis that hit Asia in 1997 challenged this perception. The crisis challenged the conventional wisdom about Asia’s miracle economies, and led to an overhaul of the role of the government in regulating risky private activities.
It appears that Korea's future is still uncertain in the wake of these changes. On the other side, a new generation of leaders has embraced the image of a "strong" leader and begun to experiment with market-oriented policies. A strong domestic power base makes it difficult to implement any fundamental change.
Disadvantages
The reemergence and influence of creationists is a major obstacle for Korean science in its efforts to educate the public about evolution. While the majority of Koreans support teaching evolution in schools one small group of creationist groups -- led by a microbiologist named Bun-Sam Lim, who is the head of the Society for Textbook Revise (STR)--is insisting on its removal from textbooks. STR believes that teaching evolution is promoting a "materialist atheism" and presents an "unhopeful worldview" for students. This could cause them to lose their faith in humanity.
The causes of anti-evolutionist beliefs are complex 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. In addition the one-sidedness of the government, bolstered by powerful conservative think tanks and business interests, aggravates public distrust of the scientific community.
The wide-ranging vulnerabilities identified in this study highlight an urgent need for targeted policy interventions to minimize these vulnerabilities. As Seoul continues to pursue its goal of becoming a cohesive urban environment, these insights serve as an impetus for a unified push for greater inclusiveness in its policies.
In the COVID-19 case, pinpointing the vulnerable neighborhoods and their occupants will be crucial to drafting precise, compassionate policies to improve their lives and safety. For instance, the high impact of the pandemic on Jjokbangs reflects socio-economic disparities that could increase vulnerability to natural and manmade disasters.
To overcome this, South Korea needs a more inclusive civil society that brings all communities together to tackle the city's biggest challenges. This requires a fundamental change in the structure of institutional politics, starting with the power of the president. The Blue House is able to mobilise a large bureaucracy and influence the political power of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office and intelligence bureau, which all do not have any oversight from parliamentary bodies or independent inspection agencies. This gives the president tremendous influence to enforce his or her own vision on the rest of the country. This recipe could lead to polarization and stagnation of the country.