Evolution Korea
Korean scientists don't take chances in the fight over evolution. The Society for Textbook Revise (STR) has been battling to get the Archaeopteryx and horses taken out of textbooks, saying they are typical icons of evolutionism.
Confucian practices with their emphasis on worldly success and high valuation of learning, still dominate the country's culture. But Korea is seeking a new paradigm of development.
Origins
The growth of Iron Age cultures brought more sophisticated states to the Korean Peninsula, like Goguryeo and Baekje. All of them had their own distinct cultural style that merged with influences from 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. It expanded its territory into Manchuria and the north of the Peninsula through several conflicts that drove the Han loyalists from the region.
It was during this time that a regional confederation emerged named Buyeo. In the Samguk yusa of the 13th century, Wang Geon's name was recorded as king. Buyeo was later referred to as Goryeo and this is how the name Korea was created. Goryeo was a thriving commercial economy and was also a center for learning. They raised goats, sheep and other animals and created furs from the animals. They performed masked dance-dramas like tallori and sandaenori, and held an annual festival in December called Yeonggo.
The economy of Goryeo was stimulated by trade briskly with other countries as well as 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 8000 BCE, the Koreans began to establish permanent settlements and began cultivating cereal crops. They also developed polished pottery, stone tools, and started organising themselves into clan societies. The Neolithic Age lasted until the 12th century BC. Around this time Gija, a prince from the Shang dynasty of China was believed to have introduced a high culture to Korea. Until the 20th century many Koreans believed that Dangun and Gija gave Korea its people and their traditional culture as well as their culture.
Functions
Korea's old development paradigm, which emphasized the role of state-led capital accumulation as well as government intervention in industry and business, aided in rapid economic growth that catapulted it from one of the world's poorest nations to the ranks of OECD countries within three decades. This model was rife with moral hazards and outright corruption. It was therefore not sustainable in an economy that is characterised by trade liberalization, and democratization.
The current crisis has revealed the flaws of the old paradigm, and it's likely that a new model will be developed in its place. The chapters 3 and 4 look at the roots of Korea's government and business risk partnership and demonstrate how the emergence economic actors with an interest in maintaining this system prevented Korea from making major changes. By focusing on corporate governance and financial resource allocation the chapters provide a thorough analysis of the root causes of the crisis and point towards ways to move forward through reforms.
에볼루션 무료체험 examines the possible paths for Korea's post-crisis paradigm of development and examines both the legacy 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 variety of emerging trends are altering the nature of power in Korea and it is these changes that will determine the course of the country's future. For example, despite the fact that political participation is still highly restricted in Korea, new methods of political activism are able to bypass and challenge political parties, thus transforming the democratic structure of the country.
Another important fact is that the power and influence of the Korean elite has decreased. A large segment of the society feels disconnected from the ruling class. This is a sign of a need for more efforts in the field of civic education and participation, as well as for new models of power sharing. The chapter concludes that the success or failure of Korea's development model will depend on how these new trends are incorporated with the willingness to make difficult decisions.
Benefits
South Korea is the world's ninth largest economy, and the sixth fastest growing. It has a huge and growing middle class as well as a strong research and development base that is driving innovation. In addition, the government has recently increased investments in infrastructure projects to support economic growth and promote social equity.
In 2008 Lee Myung-bak's administration announced five leading indicators in an effort to establish a new development system with the emphasis on changes and practicality. It attempted to streamline government operations and privatize public corporations with higher efficiency, and to overhaul administrative regulations.
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. Its exports of advanced manufacturing technology as well as high-tech consumer electronic products have become a significant source of income. In addition, the government has been encouraging the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement) initiative, which has transformed the country from an agricultural society into one focused on manufacturing.
The country also enjoys a high standard of living and provides various benefits to employees, including the right to maternity leave and job security. Employers are also required to subscribe to accident insurance, which provides 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 an example of success for many emerging nations around the world. However the global financial crisis that swept through Asia in 1997 challenged this notion. The crisis shattering the myths about Asia's miracle economies, and prompted an entirely new understanding of the role of the government in regulating risky private ventures.
It appears that Korea's destiny is not certain in the aftermath of these changes. On the one side, a new generation of leaders has embraced the image of an "strong" leader and begun to experiment with market-oriented policy. On the other hand, a powerful domestic power base has made it difficult to implement radical change.
Advantages
The reemergence of the creationists is a major obstacle to Korean science's efforts in educating the public about evolution. While the majority of Koreans support 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 advocating for its removal from textbooks. STR claims that teaching evolution encourages an "materialist atheism" and portrays a "unhopeful worldview" for students. This could cause them to lose their faith in humanity.
The causes of anti-evolutionist beliefs are complex and varied. 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 groups, business interests, and other influential groups has also led to a growing distrust of the scientific community.
In the end the study's findings about numerous vulnerabilities point to the need for targeted policies that can mitigate them preemptively. As Seoul continues to pursue its goal of becoming a more cohesive urban landscape, these insights provide a basis for a unified push for greater inclusion in its policies.
In the COVID-19 case, identifying vulnerable neighborhoods and their occupants will be essential to crafting precise, compassionate policies that will bolster their welfare and safety. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Jjokbangs for instance, reflects socio-economic disparities which could increase vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters.
To overcome this, South Korea needs a more inclusive civil society that can bring all communities together to solve the most pressing issues facing the city. This requires a radical change in the structure and power of the institution of politics. Currently, the Blue House is able to mobilize a vast bureaucracy and strategically leverage the Supreme Prosecutor's Office and intelligence bureau, all of which are not subject to oversight by parliamentary bodies or independent inspection agencies. This gives the president the ability to impose their vision on the rest the country. This can lead to political polarization that can lead to stagnation and polarization throughout the country.