Korean scientists aren't taking any chances when it comes to the fight over evolution. The Society for Textbook Revise has been fighting to eliminate Archaeopteryx as well as horses and other evolutionary icons from textbooks.
Confucian traditions, with their emphasis on the importance of success in the world and their high importance of learning continue to dominate the culture of the country. But Korea is searching for an alternative model of development.
Origins
The growth of Iron Age cultures brought more sophisticated states to the Korean Peninsula, like Goguryeo and Baekje. 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 while shamanism remained to be practised too.
Goguryeo was the first of these kingdoms to impose its own system of government on the Korean people. It established a king-centered system of government in the 2nd Century. Through a series wars it wiped out those who were loyal to the Han dynasty from the north of the peninsula. It expanded its territory to Manchuria too.
It was during this time that a regional confederation was formed named Buyeo. In the Samguk yusa of the 13th century Wang Geon's name was recorded as the king. Buyeo was renamed Goryeo and, consequently, the name was adopted by Korea. Goryeo was a great commercial state and a centre of learning. They raised goats, sheep and other animals and made furs from the animals. They performed masked dance-dramas like tallori and sandaenori, and celebrated an annual festival in December, which was called Yeonggo.
The economy of Goryeo was boosted by the booming trade with other countries as well as the Song Dynasty of China. Byeongnando was the main entry point to Gaeseong, the capital of Gaeseong. Traders came from Central Asia, Arabia and Southeast Asia. The items they brought were medicinal herbs and silk.
Around 8000 BCE Around 8,000 BCE, the Koreans started to establish permanent settlements and started cultivating cereal crops. They also invented pottery and polished stone tools, and began forming clan societies. The Neolithic Age continued until the 12th Century BC. Around this time Gija, a prince from the Shang dynasty of China is believed to have brought a new 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 paradigm of development, which was based on state-led capital accumulation and government intervention in business and industry, contributed to an explosive growth in its economy that took it from being one of the most deprived countries in the world to being among the top of OECD nations in a mere three years. The system was plagued by moral hazards and outright corruption. It was therefore unsustainable in an economy characterised by trade liberalization and democratization.
The current crisis has revealed the flaws of the old paradigm, and it is likely that an alternative model will emerge to replace it. The chapters 3 and 4 explore the origins of Korea's government and business risk partnership and demonstrate how the emergence economic actors with an desire to maintain this system hindered Korea from adopting fundamental changes. These chapters, which are focused on corporate governance and financial resource allocation, provide a thorough investigation of the underlying factors that led to this crisis, and suggest strategies to proceed with reforms.
Chapter 5 examines possible paths for Korea's post-crisis paradigm of development, exploring both the legacies of the past as well as the new trends triggered by the IT revolution. It also examines the implications of these developments for Korea's social and political structures.
A major finding is that a number of emerging trends are altering the nature of power in Korea, and it is these developments that will determine the course of the country's future. For example, despite the fact that participation in politics is still a major issue in Korea new forms of political activism bypass and challenge political parties, thus transforming democratic system in the country.
Another important finding is that the influence and power of the Korean elite has diminished. A large segment of the population feels disengaged from the ruling class. This suggests a need for more efforts to educate and participate in civic life and new models of power sharing. The chapter concludes by saying that the success of Korea's new paradigm for development will be determined by the extent to which 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 a large and growing middle class and a robust research and development base that is driving innovation. The government has also recently increased its investments in infrastructure projects to support the growth of the economy and to promote social equity.
In 2008, the Lee Myung-bak administration announced five indicators of leadership in a bid to create a new development system with a focus on improvements and practicality. It made efforts to streamline government operations and privatize public companies for greater efficiency, and overhaul administrative regulation.
Since the closing of the Cold War, South Korea has been pursuing a strategy of economic integration with the rest of the region and beyond. Exports of high-tech consumer electronics and advanced manufacturing technologies have become an important source of income. In addition the government has been promoting the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement) initiative, which is transforming the nation from a rural society to one that is that is focused on manufacturing.
The country also enjoys a high standard of living and provides a range of benefits to employees, such as pregnancy leave and job security. Employers are also required to subscribe to accident insurance, which provides the cost of work-related illnesses and injuries. It is also common for companies to offer private medical insurance which provides protection for illnesses that are not covered by the National Health Insurance.
As a result, South Korea has been considered a model of success for many of the developing countries around the world. The global financial crisis of 1997 that swept across Asia and the world, challenged this notion. The crisis challenged the traditional 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 not certain in the following changes. A new generation of leaders have taken on the image as a "strong leader" and are beginning to explore market-oriented policies. A strong domestic power base makes it difficult to implement any fundamental change.
Disadvantages
The reemergence of creationists is a major hurdle to Korean science's efforts to educate people about evolution. While the majority of Koreans support the teaching of evolution in schools, some creationist groups -- led by a microbiologist called Bun-Sam Lim, the head of the Society for Textbook Revise (STR)--is insisting on its removal from textbooks. STR argues that teaching evolution encourages "atheist materialism" and paints an "unhopeful" worldview for students, which could cause them to lose 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, supported by powerful conservative think organizations, business interests and other influential groups has also exacerbated public mistrust of the scientific community.
The wide-ranging weaknesses that were identified in this study indicate an urgent need for targeted policy interventions that can reduce these vulnerabilities. As Seoul continues to work towards becoming a more cohesive urban landscape, these insights can be used to inspire the creation of a united push for more inclusivity in its policies.
In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, pinpointing vulnerable neighborhoods and occupants is essential for crafting detailed compassionate policy measures to ensure their safety and welfare. The significant impact of COVID-19 on Jjokbangs, for example, is a sign of socio-economic inequality that could increase vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters.
To overcome this, South Korea requires a more inclusive and diverse civil society that can unite all communities to solve the most pressing problems of the city. This requires a fundamental shift in the structure of institutional politics beginning with the power of the presidency. 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 do not have any oversight from the parliamentary bodies or independent inspection agencies. This gives the president a lot of power to dictate his vision to the rest of the country. This recipe can lead stagnation and polarization of the country.