Evolution Korea
Korean scientists don't take any risks in the debate over evolution. The Society for Textbook Revise (STR) has been battling to have 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 education, still dominate the country's culture. But Korea is seeking the new model of development.
Origins
The growth of Iron Age culture brought more sophisticated states like Goguryeo Baekje and Silla to the Korean peninsula. All of them had their own distinct cultural style that blended with the influence of their powerful neighbors. They also embraced aspects of Chinese culture including Confucianism, Buddhism and shamanism.
Goguryeo, the first of the Korean kingdoms was the first to establish their own system of government. It established a king centered system of government in the 2nd century. Through a series of wars, it wiped out those who were loyal to the Han dynasty from the north of the peninsula. It also expanded its territory to Manchuria too.
During this period the regional confederation of Buyeo was established. In the Samguk yusa of the 13th century Wang Geon's name was listed as the king. Buyeo was changed to Goryeo, and thus the name Korea. Goryeo was a great commercial state and a centre of learning. They raised goats, sheep as well as other livestock, and made furs out of them. They danced in masked dramas like tallori and sandaenori, and celebrated an annual festival in December, which was called Yeonggo.
The economy of Goryeo was stimulated by the brisk trade, which included the Song Dynasty of China. Traders from Central Asia, Arabia, Southeast Asia and Japan came to Byeongnando which was the entrance to the capital city of Gaeseong. Silk and medicinal herbs were among the goods they brought.
Around 8,000 BCE In the year 8,000 BCE, the Koreans began to establish permanent settlements and began to cultivate cereal crops. They also developed polished pottery, stone tools and began to organize themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age continued until the 12th Century BC. At this time Gija, a prince of the Shang dynasty in China, purportedly introduced a higher culture to Korea. In the 20th century, many Koreans believed that Dangun and Gija gave Korea its people and their basic culture as well as their culture.
Functions
Korea's previous development model, which emphasized the role of capital accumulation by the state and government intervention in industries and business, aided in rapid economic growth that took it from being one of the world's poorest countries to the ranks of OECD countries in just three decades. The system was plagued by moral risks and even corruption. It was therefore not sustainable in a world economy marked by trade liberalization, liberalization and the process of democratization.
The current crisis has revealed the weakness of the old paradigm, and it is likely that a new model will emerge in its place. Chapters 3 and 4 examine the origin of Korea's government-business risk partnership, and demonstrate how the development of business actors with an interest in maintaining this system prevented the country from implementing fundamental changes. By focusing on corporate governance and allocation of financial resources, these chapters provide a thorough analysis of the root causes of the crisis and provide suggestions to the best ways to move forward with reforms.
Chapter 5 examines the possible paths of Korea's evolution of its development paradigm in the post-crisis time frame, examining both the legacies of the past as well as new developments triggered by the IT revolution and globalization. It also analyzes the implications of these developments for Korea's political and social structures.
The most important finding is that there are a variety of emerging trends that are transforming the nature of power and will determine the future of the country. For instance, despite the fact that political participation is still a major issue in Korea, new methods of political activism bypass and challenge the power of political parties, thereby transforming the democratic structure of the country.
Another important point is that the power and influence of the Korean elite has decreased. A large segment of society feels disengaged from the ruling class. This fact points to the need to work harder 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 how well these trends can be incorporated and the willingness of people to make difficult decisions.
Benefits
South Korea is the world's ninth largest economy, and the sixth fastest growing. It has a growing middle class and an extensive R&D infrastructure which drives innovation. The government has recently increased its investment in infrastructure projects, to boost economic growth and promote social equity.
In Read Significantly more , the Lee Myung-bak administration announced five leading indicators in an attempt to create a new development system with a focus on improvements and practicality. The administration made efforts to streamline government operations and privatize public companies with higher efficiency, and to overhaul administrative regulations.
Since the conclusion 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. Additionally the government has been promoting the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement) initiative, which has transformed the nation from a rural society to one that is focused on manufacturing.
The country enjoys a high quality of life and offers numerous benefits to its employees including maternity leave and job stability. Employers are also required to purchase accident insurance, which covers the cost of workplace-related illnesses or injuries. It is also a common practice to have companies offer private medical insurance to cover ailments that are not covered by National Health Insurance.
South Korea is viewed as a success model for many developing countries around the world. The global financial crisis of 1997, which swept Asia and the world, challenged this notion. The crisis shattering the myths about Asia's miracle economies, and led to an overhaul of the role of governments in managing risky private activities.
In the wake of this shift the Korean future isn't clear. On one side, a new era of leaders has embraced the image of a "strong" leader and begun to experiment with market-oriented policies. On the other hand, a powerful domestic power base has made it difficult to implement fundamental change.
Advantages
The revival and influence of the creationists is a major hurdle for Korean science in its efforts to educate the public on 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 advocating for its removal from textbooks. STR argues teaching evolution promotes an "materialist atheism" and reflects an "unhopeful worldview" for students. This can cause them to lose their 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-sided populism of the government, supported by powerful conservative business interests and think tanks and business interests, has led to a growing distrust of the scientific community.
In the end, the numerous vulnerability identified in this study highlight an urgent need for targeted policy interventions to preemptively reduce these vulnerabilities. As Seoul continues to work towards becoming a cohesive urban landscape, these findings can be used to inspire the creation of a united push for more inclusivity in its policies.
In the COVID-19 case, pinpointing the vulnerable neighborhoods and the occupants will be essential to crafting detailed, compassionate policy measures to improve their lives and security. For instance, the high impact of the pandemic on Jjokbangs is a reflection of the socioeconomic disparities that can compound vulnerability to natural and human-made catastrophes.
To overcome this, South Korea requires a more inclusive and diverse civil society that can bring together all communities to address the most pressing issues facing the city. This requires a fundamental change in the structure of the institution, starting with the power of the president. The Blue House can mobilize a large bureaucracy, and 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 institutions of the parliament or independent inspectors. This gives the president the ability to impose their vision on the rest of the nation. This recipe can lead stagnation and polarization of the country.