Korean scientists don't take chances when it comes to the fight over evolution. The Society for Textbook Revise (STR) has been battling to have the Archaeopteryx and horses removed from textbooks, saying they are typical symbols of evolutionism.
Confucian traditions, with their focus on achieving success in the world and high value of learning still dominates the culture of the country. But Korea is looking for an entirely new model of development.
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 distinct culture which blended with the influence of their powerful neighbors and they also adopted aspects of Chinese culture, including Confucianism and Buddhism however shamanism continued to be practised too.
Goguryeo was the first of these kingdoms to impose its own system of government on the Korean people. It established its authority in the 1st century and established a king-centered rule system in the 2nd century. It expanded its territory into Manchuria and the north of the Peninsula by a series conflicts that drove the Han loyalists from the region.
In this time the regional confederation of Buyeo was created. 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 changed to Goryeo, and thus the name was adopted by Korea. Goryeo had a strong commercial economy, and was a centre for learning. They raised goats, sheep as well as other livestock, and made furs from the animals. They performed masked dance dramas such as tallori and sandaenori. And they celebrated an annual festival in December called Yeonggo.
Goryeo’s economy was boosted through the brisk trade, which included the Song Dynasty in China. Traders from Central Asia, Arabia, Southeast Asia and Japan came to Byeongnando which was the entrance to Gaeseong, the capital city. Gaeseong. The items they brought were medicinal herbs and silk.
Around 8000 BCE Around 8,000 BCE, the Koreans started to establish permanent settlements and began to cultivate cereal crops. They also invented pottery and polished stone tools and began to organize themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age lasted until the 12th century BC. At this time Gija, a prince from the Shang dynasty in China was believed to have introduced a high culture to Korea. In the 20th century, many Koreans believed that Dangun and Gija gave Korea its people and their traditional culture, respectively.
Functions
Korea's old paradigm of development, focusing on state-led capital accumulation and government intervention in industries and business, contributed to a rapid economic growth that took it from being one of the poorest countries in the world to being among the top of OECD nations in just three decades. However, this model was fraught with moral hazard and outright corruption and was unsustainable in a global economy of trade liberalization, liberalization and the process of democratization.
The current crisis has revealed the weaknesses of the current model and it is likely that another model will replace it. Chapters 3 and 4 explore the genesis of Korea's business-government risk partnership, and demonstrate how the emergence of economic actors with an interest in preserving the system impeded it from adopting fundamental reforms. By focusing on corporate governance and financial resource allocation the chapters provide a detailed examination of the underlying causes of the crisis and point to ways of moving forward with reforms.
Chapter 5 examines the possible paths that Korea's evolution of its development paradigm in the post-crisis era, examining both legacies inherited from the past and new developments triggered by the IT revolution and globalization. It also examines how these changes will impact Korea's political and social structures.
One of the most significant findings is that a number of emerging trends are altering the power structure in Korea, and it is these trends that will determine the course of the country's future. In spite of the fact that political participation in Korea is still extremely limited new forms of democracy are emerging which bypass political parties and challenge them, thereby transforming the country's democratic system.
Another important fact 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 the need to work harder at civic education and participation and new models of power sharing. The chapter concludes with the statement that the success of Korea's new model of development will be determined by how well these trends can be combined and whether people are willing to make difficult decisions.
Benefits
South Korea is the world's ninth largest economy and the sixth fastest growing. It has a huge and growing middle class and a robust research and development base that drives innovation. Additionally the government has recently increased investment in infrastructure projects to help economic growth and encourage social equity.
In 2008, the Lee Myung-bak administration announced five indicators of leadership in an effort to establish a new development system with a focus on change and practicality. It made efforts to streamline government administration and privatize public corporations for greater efficiency, and overhaul administrative regulation.
Since the ending of the Cold War, South Korea pursues a strategy of the integration of its economy with the rest of the world and outside the region. Its exports of advanced manufacturing technology and high-tech consumer electronics have become a major source of income. The government has also been promoting Saemaeul Undong, which is a new community movement, to transform the country from one that is primarily agricultural into one that is focused on manufacturing.
The country has a great standard of living and provides many benefits to employees such as maternity leave, and job stability. Employers are also required to sign up for to accident insurance, which provides the cost of workplace-related illnesses or injuries. In addition, it is typical for businesses to offer private medical insurance that offers coverage for illness that are not covered by the National Health Insurance.
In the end, South Korea has been considered a model of prosperity for many emerging nations around the globe. However the global financial crisis that struck Asia in 1997 challenged this view. The crisis challenged the notion about Asia's miracle economies and led to a fundamental reappraisal of the role played by the state in managing risky private economic activities.
It appears that Korea's future is still uncertain in the wake of these changes. A new generation of leaders have embraced the image as a "strong leader" and have begun to explore market-oriented policies. A powerful domestic power base makes it difficult to implement any radical 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 favor teaching evolution in schools, one small group of 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 the idea of a "materialist atheism" and reflects an "unhopeful worldview" for students. This can cause them to lose their faith in humanity.
The roots of this anti-evolution sentiment 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. The one-sided populism that is backed by powerful conservative think groups, business interests, and other influential groups has also exacerbated public mistrust of the scientific community.
In the final analysis, the study's findings on numerous vulnerabilities point to 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 the most vulnerable areas and their inhabitants is essential for crafting detailed and compassionate policies to bolster their safety and wellbeing. For example, the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Jjokbangs is a reflection of the socioeconomic disparities that can compound the vulnerability to natural and man-made catastrophes.
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 change in the structure and power of the institution of politics. The Blue House can mobilize a large bureaucracy, and also use the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, and the intelligence bureau to exert influence on the political scene. These agencies are not subject to oversight by parliamentary bodies or independent inspectors. This gives the president the power to dictate their own vision on the rest of the country. This is a recipe for partisanship that could lead to stagnation and polarization within the country.