Evolution Korea
When it comes to 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, saying they are typical icons of evolutionism.
Confucian practices, with their emphasis on worldly success and high valuation of learning, still dominate the culture of the country. However, Korea is in search of an entirely new model of development.
Origins
The development of Iron Age cultures brought more sophisticated states to the Korean Peninsula, including Goguryeo and Baekje. Each of them developed a unique cultural style that merged with influences of their powerful neighbors. They also embraced aspects of Chinese culture including Confucianism, Buddhism and shamanism.
Goguryeo was the first of these kingdoms to establish its own system of government on the Korean people. It consolidated its authority at the end of the 1st century and established a king-centered governing system by the early 2nd century. Through a series of wars it drove away the factions that were loyal to the Han dynasty from the north of the peninsula. It also expanded its territory in Manchuria too.
It was during this period that a regional confederation emerged known as Buyeo. Its founder Wang Geon was given the title of king, and his name was recorded down in the 13th century Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms). Buyeo was later referred to as Goryeo and that is how the name Korea was created. Goryeo had a strong commercial state and was also a place for learning. They raised goats, sheep as well as other livestock, and created furs from them. They wrote poetry and masked dance-dramas like sandaenori and tallori and they celebrated an annual festival known as Yeonggo in December.
The economy of Goryeo was stimulated by trade briskly with other nations which included the Song dynasty of China. Byeongnando was the gateway to Gaeseong the capital city of Gaeseong. Traders came from Central Asia, Arabia and Southeast Asia. Silk and medicinal herbs were among the goods they brought.
From around 8,000 BCE around 8,000 BCE, the Koreans began establishing permanent settlements and cultivating cereal crops. They also created polished stone tools, pottery and began to organize themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age continued until the 12th century BC. Around this time Gija was a prince of the Shang dynasty in China, purportedly brought a new high culture to Korea. Up until the 20th century, a lot of Koreans believed that Dangun and Gija gave Korea its people and their basic culture as well as their culture.
Functions
Korea's old development paradigm that stressed the importance of capital accumulation by the state and government intervention in industry and business, led to rapid economic growth that catapulted it from one of the world's poorest economies to the ranks of OECD countries in three decades. However, the system was plagued by moral hazard and corruption that was outright and was unsustainable in a world economy of trade liberalization, openness and the process of democratization.
The current crisis has exposed the weakness of the existing paradigm and it is likely that a new model will replace it. Chapters 3 and 4 examine the genesis of Korea's business-government risk partnership, and show how the development of economic actors with an interest in maintaining this system prevented it from adopting fundamental reforms. These chapters, which are focused on corporate governance and financial resources allocation, provide a thorough analysis of the root reasons for the current crisis and suggest ways to move forward with reforms.
Chapter 5 examines the possible avenues for Korea's post-crisis development paradigm evolution by examining both the legacy of the past, as well as the new trends created by the IT revolution. It also examines the implications of these changes for Korea's social and political structures.
The main conclusion is that there are many emerging trends that are changing the nature of power and will determine the future of the country. For instance, despite the fact that participation in politics is still highly restricted in Korea, new methods of political activism are able to bypass and challenge political parties, thus transforming country's democracy.
Another important finding is that the power and influence of the Korean elite has diminished. A large section of the society feels disconnected from the ruling class. This is a sign of the need for greater efforts at civic education and participation and new models of power sharing. In the end, the chapter concludes that the success or failure of Korea's development model will be determined by how these new trends are incorporated with the ability to make tough choices.
Benefits
South Korea is the world's ninth largest economy, and the sixth fastest growing. 무료에볼루션 has a large and growing middle class, and also a strong research and development base that is driving innovation. The government has also recently increased its investment in infrastructure projects, to boost economic growth and encourage social equity.
In 2008, the Lee Myung-bak administration announced five indicators that would be used in an attempt to establish a new development system with the emphasis on changes and practicality. It attempted to streamline the government's organization and privatize public companies with higher efficiency, and to overhaul administrative regulations.
Since the conclusion of the Cold War, South Korea pursues a strategy of integration of its economy with the rest of the world and beyond the region. The exports of advanced manufacturing technologies and high-tech consumer electronics have become a major source of income. The government is also promoting Saemaeul Undong, which is a new movement of the community, to transform the country from one that is primarily agricultural to one that is focused on manufacturing.
The country also enjoys a high standard of living and provides many benefits for employees, including pregnancy leave and job security. Additionally, employers are required to sign up to accident insurance, which covers the costs for work-related illnesses or injury. Likewise, it is common for companies to provide private medical insurance which provides coverage for illness not covered by the National Health Insurance.
In the end, South Korea has been thought of as a model for prosperity for many emerging countries around the world. The global financial crisis of 1997, which swept Asia, challenged this view. The crisis shattering the traditional wisdom about Asia's miracle economies, and prompted a fundamentally reappraisal on the role of governments in regulating risky private ventures.
In the wake of this shift the Korean future is still uncertain. A new generation of leaders have embraced the image of an "strong leader" and have begun to experiment with market-oriented policies. A strong power base in the domestic arena makes it difficult to implement any radical change.
Advantages
The reemergence of creationists is a major obstacle to Korean science's efforts to educate citizens about evolution. While the majority of Koreans favor the teaching of evolution in schools, a small group of creationist groups, led by a microbiologist called Bun-Sam Lim, who is the head of the Society for Textbook Revise (STR)--is pushing for its deletion from textbooks. STR argues teaching evolution promotes a "materialist atheism" and portrays a "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 federal government, aided by powerful conservative think tanks and business interests, aggravates public distrust of the scientific community.
Ultimately, the widespread vulnerabilities that were identified in this study indicate the need for urgent targeted policy interventions to reduce these vulnerabilities. These insights will help Seoul to achieve its goal of creating an urban landscape that is harmonious.
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 wellbeing. For instance, the extreme impact of the disease on Jjokbangs reflects socio-economic disparities that can compound vulnerability to natural and human-made catastrophes.
To overcome this, South Korea needs a more inclusive civil society that brings all communities together to address the city's biggest challenges. This requires a fundamental shift in the structure of the institution, starting with the power of the president. The Blue House is able to mobilize a huge bureaucracy as well as influence the political power of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office and intelligence bureau, which lack any checks from the parliamentary bodies or independent inspection agencies. This gives the president the ability to dictate his vision to the rest of the country. This recipe can result in polarization and stagnation of the country.