Evolution Korea
In the debate over evolution, Korean scientists aren't taking their chances. The Society for Textbook Revise (STR) has been fighting to have the Archaeopteryx and horses taken out of textbooks, saying they are common symbols of evolutionism.
Confucian practices that emphasize the world's success and the importance of learning, still dominate the country's culture. But Korea is seeking the new model of development.
Origins
The development of Iron Age cultures brought more sophisticated states to the Korean Peninsula, such as Goguryeo and Baekje. They all created a distinct style of culture that blended with the influence from their powerful neighbours. They also adopted aspects of Chinese culture such as Confucianism, Buddhism and shamanism.
Goguryeo was the first of these kingdoms to establish its own version of government to the Korean people. It consolidated its power in the 1st century and established a king-centered governing system in the 2nd century. It expanded its territory into Manchuria and the north of the Peninsula with several wars that drove Han loyalists from the area.
During this period, a regional confederation called Buyeo was created. 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 changed to Goryeo and, consequently, the name Korea. Goryeo was a prosperous commercial economy and was also a place for learning. They raised sheep, goats as well as other livestock, and created furs from them. They wrote poetry and dance-dramas with masks like sandaenori or tallori and they held a festival every year called Yeonggo in December.
Goryeo's economy was boosted by trade briskly with other nations, including 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 products they brought.
Around 8,000 BCE, the Koreans started to establish permanent settlements and began cultivating cereal crops. They also created polished stone tools, pottery and started organising themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age continued until the 12th century BC. Around this time, Gija, a Shang dynasty prince from China is believed to have introduced high-culture to Korea. Many Koreans believed, until the 20th century that Gija and Dangun gave Korea their people and basic culture.
Functions
Korea's old paradigm of development, which emphasized state-led capital accumulation, government intervention in industries and business as well as an explosive growth in its economy that took it from being one of the poorest countries in the world to the ranks of OECD nations in a mere three years. This system was fraught with moral hazards and outright corruption. It was therefore not sustainable in a world economy characterized by liberalization, trade and the process of democratization.
The current crisis has revealed the weaknesses of the current paradigm and it is likely that a new model will replace it. The chapters 3 and 4 look at the genesis of Korea's state and business risk partnership and demonstrate how the emergence economic actors that had an interest in preserving this system prevented Korea from making major changes. By focusing on corporate governance and the allocation of financial resources the chapters provide a detailed examination of the underlying causes of the crisis and point to the best ways to move forward with reforms.
Chapter 5 examines possible paths for Korea's post-crisis paradigm of development by examining both the legacy of the past and the new trends created by the IT revolution. It also examines the implications of these developments for Korea's social and political structures.
The major 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 fact that participation in politics is still highly restricted in Korea new ways of political activism bypass and challenge the power of political parties, thus transforming democratic system in the country.
Another significant finding is that the power of the Korean elite isn't as great as it once was, and that a large segment of society has a sense of being disconnected from the ruling class. This fact indicates the need for greater civic involvement and education as well as new ways of power-sharing. The chapter concludes that the success or failure of Korea's development paradigm will depend on how these new trends can be combined with the willingness to make difficult decisions.
Benefits
South Korea has the ninth largest economy in the world, and the sixth fastest-growing. It has an expanding middle class and an extensive R&D infrastructure that drives innovation. The government has also recently increased its investments in infrastructure projects to boost economic growth and promote social equity.
In 2008, the Lee Myung-bak administration released five indicators that would be used in an attempt to establish a new system of development with a focus on improvements and practicality. It aimed to streamline government administration, privatize public companies with greater efficiency, and reform administrative regulation.
Since the end of Cold War, South Korea is pursuing a strategy for integration of its economy with the rest and beyond the region. Exports of high-tech consumer electronics as well as advanced manufacturing technologies have become an important source of income. In addition the government has been pushing the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement) initiative, transforming the country from an agricultural society to one focused on manufacturing.
The country also enjoys an extremely high standard of living and provides various benefits to employees, including the right to maternity leave and job security. Employers are also required to purchase accident insurance, which covers the costs related to work-related illness or injury. It is also common for businesses to provide private medical insurance to cover ailments that are not covered by National Health Insurance.
As discover here , South Korea has been considered a model of prosperity for many emerging countries around the world. The global financial crisis of 1997, which swept through Asia and the world, challenged this notion. The crisis shattering the conventional wisdom about Asia's miracle economies and caused a fundamental rethinking of the role played by the state in managing the risky private sector economic activities.
In the wake of this change the Korean future is still unclear. On the other hand, a new generation of leaders has embraced the image of a "strong" leader and begun to explore market-oriented policies. On the contrary, a strong domestic power base has made it difficult to implement radical changes.
Advantages
The reemergence and influence of creationists is a major obstacle for Korean science in its efforts to inform the public about evolution. While the majority of Koreans support teaching evolution in schools one small group of creationist groups--led by a microbiologist named Bun-Sam Lim who is the president of the Society for Textbook Revise (STR)--is insisting on its removal from textbooks. STR claims that teaching evolution encourages "atheist materialism" and paints an "unhopeful" worldview for students, which can cause them to lose faith in humanity.
The roots of this anti-evolution sentiment 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. In addition the one-sidedness of the federal government, aided by powerful conservative think tanks and business interests which has led to public disdain for the scientific community.
In the final analysis the study's findings regarding widespread vulnerabilities highlight a need for targeted policy interventions that can mitigate them preemptively. These findings will assist Seoul to reach its goal of becoming a cityscape that is harmonious.
In the COVID-19 case, pinpointing the vulnerable neighborhoods and their occupants will be essential to crafting precise, compassionate policies that will bolster their welfare and security. For example, the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Jjokbangs reflect the socio-economic differences which can increase 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 tackle the most pressing problems of the city. This requires a fundamental shift in the structure of the institution, starting with the power of the president. Currently, the Blue House is able to mobilize a huge bureaucracy as well as strategically leverage the Supreme Prosecutor's Office and intelligence bureau, which lack any checks from parliamentarians or independent inspection agencies. This gives the president a lot of power to dictate their own vision on the rest the country. This is a recipe that can lead stagnation and polarization of the country.