Evolution Korea
Korean scientists aren't taking chances when it comes to the fight over evolution. The Society for Textbook Revise (STR) has been battling to have the Archaeopteryx and horses taken out of textbooks, saying they are typical symbols of evolutionism.
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 development of Iron Age culture brought more sophisticated states like Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla to the Korean peninsula. They all developed their own culture which blended with the influence of their powerful neighbors and also embraced various aspects of Chinese culture, especially Confucianism and Buddhism while shamanism remained to be practised too.
Goguryeo was the first of these kingdoms to implement its own system of government on the Korean people. It established a king-centered system of governance in the early 2nd century. Through a series of wars, it eliminated the factions that were loyal to the Han dynasty from the north of the peninsula and expanded its territory to Manchuria too.
It was during this period that a regional confederation emerged called 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 this is how the name Korea was created. Goryeo was a prosperous commercial and economic system and was also a center for education. Its inhabitants cultivated crops and raised livestock like sheep and goats. They also created furs out of them too. Info danced in masked dramas like tallori and sandaenori, and celebrated an annual festival in December called Yeonggo.
The economy of Goryeo was stimulated by brisk trade with other countries which included the Song dynasty of China. Byeongnando was the main entry point to Gaeseong which was the capital of Gaeseong. Traders came from Central Asia, Arabia and Southeast Asia. The items they brought were medicinal herbs and silk.
From around 8,000 BCE the Koreans began to establish permanent settlements and cultivating cereal crops. They also created polished pottery, stone tools and started organising themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age continued until the 12th Century BC. At this time, Gija, a Shang dynasty prince from China is believed to have introduced high-culture to Korea. Until the 20th century many Koreans believed that Dangun and Gija gave Korea its people and their traditional culture and their basic culture, respectively.
Functions
Korea's old development paradigm that stressed the importance of state-led capital accumulation and government intervention in industry and business, aided in rapid economic growth, which took it from one of the world's poorest economies to the ranks of OECD countries in just three decades. This model was rife with moral risks and even corruption. It was therefore not sustainable in a world economy marked by trade liberalization, liberalization and democratic change.
The current crisis has exposed the flaws of the current model and it is likely that another model will replace it. The chapters 3 and 4 examine the genesis of Korea's state and business risk partnership and explain how the emergence of economic actors who had an interest in maintaining this system hindered Korea from making fundamental changes. By focusing on corporate governance and allocation of financial resources the chapters provide a thorough analysis of the causes of the crisis, and point to ways of moving forward through reforms.
Chapter 5 examines the possible routes of Korea's evolving development paradigm during the post-crisis era, examining both the legacy of the past and the new developments triggered by the IT revolution and globalization. It also examines the implications of these changes for Korea's social and political structures.
The most important finding is that there are several emerging trends that are altering the nature of power and will affect the future of the country. For example, despite the fact that participation in politics 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 significant finding is that the power of the Korean elite is not as strong as it once was, and that a large portion of society feels a sense of disconnection from the ruling class. This fact indicates the need for greater civic education and participation and new models 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 the willingness of people to make difficult choices.
Benefits
South Korea has the ninth largest economy in the world and the sixth fastest-growing. It has a growing middle class and a strong R&D base that drives innovation. The government has recently increased its investment in infrastructure projects to boost economic growth as well as promote social equity.
In 2008, the Lee Myung-bak administration released five leading indicators in an effort to establish a new development system with the emphasis on changes and practicality. The administration made efforts to streamline government operations, privatize public corporations equipped with higher efficiency, and to overhaul administrative regulations.
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 a major source of income. In addition, the government has been encouraging the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement) initiative, which is transforming the country from an agricultural society to one focused on manufacturing.
The country also enjoys an extremely high standard of living and offers a range of benefits to employees, including pregnancy leave and job security. Moreover, employers are required to sign up to accident insurance, which covers the costs related to work-related illness or injury. It is also common for companies to offer private medical insurance which provides insurance for illnesses not covered by National Health Insurance.
As a result, South Korea has been thought of as a model for prosperity for many emerging countries around the world. However the global financial crisis that hit Asia in 1997 challenged this perception. The crisis shattered the myths about Asia's miracle economies, and led to an entirely new understanding of the role of government in regulating risky private activities.
In 에볼루션 of this shift the Korean future is still unclear. On the one side, a new generation of leaders has embraced the image of being a "strong" leader and started to experiment with market-oriented policy. On the other hand, a strong domestic power base has made it difficult to make fundamental changes.
Advantages
The reemergence and influence of creationists is a major obstacle for Korean science in its efforts to educate the public about evolution. The majority of Koreans are in favor of teaching students about evolution however a small group led by Bun-Sam Liu (the head of the Society for Textbook Revise, STR) is advocating for the removal of evolution from textbooks. STR argues teaching evolution promotes an "materialist atheism" and presents an "unhopeful worldview" for students. This can cause students to lose faith in humanity.
The causes of anti-evolutionist 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. The one-sided populism that is backed by powerful conservative think organizations, business interests and other influential organizations, has also led to a growing distrust of the scientific community.
In the final analysis the study's findings about numerous vulnerabilities point to the need for targeted policy interventions that can mitigate them preemptively. These insights will help Seoul to achieve its dream of becoming a cityscape that is harmonious.
In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, pinpointing the most vulnerable areas and their inhabitants is crucial to develop detailed and compassionate policies to ensure their safety and welfare. For instance, the extreme impact of the disease on Jjokbangs is a reflection of the socioeconomic disparities that could increase vulnerability to natural and human-made disasters.
To overcome this, South Korea requires a more inclusive and diverse civil society that can unite all communities to address the most pressing problems of the city. This requires a fundamental shift in the structure and power of the institution of politics. At present, the Blue House is able to mobilise a large bureaucracy and politically leverage the Supreme Prosecutor's Office and intelligence bureau, all of which lack any checks from the parliamentary bodies or independent inspection agencies. This gives the president tremendous influence to enforce his or her views on the rest of the nation. This recipe can lead stagnation and polarization of the country.