One Evolution Korea Success Story You'll Never Remember
Wiki Article
Evolution Korea
Korean scientists aren't taking chances when it comes to the debate over evolution. 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 traditions with their focus on achieving success in the world and their high value of education still dominate the culture of the country. However, Korea is in search of an alternative development model.
Origins
The growth of Iron Age culture brought more sophisticated states like Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla to the Korean peninsula. Each of them created a distinct style of culture that merged with influences from their powerful neighbours. They also adopted elements of Chinese culture including Confucianism, Buddhism and shamanism.
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 government in the 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 into Manchuria too.
It was during this time that a regional confederation was formed known as Buyeo. In the Samguk yusa of the 13th century, Wang Geon's name was recorded as king. Buyeo was changed to Goryeo, and thus the name Korea. Goryeo was a thriving commercial economy and was also a place for learning. They raised goats, sheep and other animals and made furs from 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 brisk trade with other nations which included the Song Dynasty of China. Byeongnando was the main entry point to Gaeseong the capital city of Gaeseong. Traders came from Central Asia, Arabia and Southeast Asia. The items they brought included silk and medicinal herbs.
Around 8,000 BCE around 8,000 BCE, the Koreans began to establish permanent settlements and cultivating cereal crops. They also invented pottery and polished stone tools and began forming clan societies. The Neolithic Age continued until the 12th century BC. Around this time, Gija, a Shang dynasty prince from China, is said to have introduced high-culture to Korea. Until the 20th century many Koreans believed that Dangun and Gija gave Korea its people and their culture, respectively.
Functions
Korea's old development model, which emphasized the role of state-led capital accumulation as well as government intervention in industries and business, contributed to rapid economic growth that catapulted it from one of the world's poorest economies to the ranks of OECD countries within three decades. But this system was also fraught with moral hazard and corruption that was outright which made it unsustainable in a global economy of trade liberalization, liberalization and democratization.
The current crisis has exposed the weaknesses of the previous model, and it is likely that an alternative model will emerge to replace it. Chapters 3 and 4 look at the genesis of Korea's business-government risk partnership, and show how the emergence of economic actors who have an interest in preserving this system prevented the country from implementing fundamental changes. By focusing on corporate governance and the allocation of financial resources, these chapters provide an in-depth analysis of the causes of the crisis, and point to ways of moving forward with reforms.
Chapter 5 explores the possible routes 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 trends generated by the IT revolution and globalization. It also analyzes the implications of these developments for Korea's political and social structures.
A major finding is that a variety of emerging trends are transforming the nature of power in Korea and it is these changes that will determine the direction of the country's future. For instance, despite fact that political participation is still highly restricted in Korea new forms of political activism are able to bypass and challenge political parties, thereby transforming the democratic system in the country.
Another important fact is that the power and influence of the Korean elite has diminished. A large segment of the population feels disengaged from the ruling class. This is a sign of a need for more efforts at civic education and participation, as well as for new models of power sharing. The chapter concludes by saying that the success of Korea's new development paradigm will be determined by the extent to which these trends can be integrated and if people are willing to make difficult decisions.
Benefits
South Korea has the ninth largest economy in the world and the sixth fastest-growing. It has a large and growing middle class, and also a strong research and development base that is driving innovation. Additionally the government has recently increased investment in infrastructure projects to aid growth in the economy and to promote social equity.
In 2008, the Lee Myung-bak administration announced five indicators of leadership in an attempt to establish a new development system with a focus on change and practicality. It made efforts to streamline the government organization and privatize public companies with greater efficiency, and reform administrative regulations.
Since the conclusion of the Cold War, South Korea pursues a plan of the integration of its economy with the rest of the world and outside the region. Exports of advanced manufacturing technologies and high-tech consumer electronic products have become a significant source of income. Additionally the government has been encouraging the Saemaeul Undong (New Community Movement) initiative, which has transformed the nation from a rural society into one that is focused on manufacturing.
The country also enjoys an extremely high standard of living and provides various benefits to employees, including pregnancy leave and job security. Employers are also required to sign up for to accident insurance, which provides payments for work-related illnesses or injuries. It is also common to have companies offer private medical insurance plans to protect against illnesses that are not covered by National Health Insurance.
South Korea is viewed as a success model for many developing nations across the globe. However, the global financial crisis that struck Asia in 1997 challenged this notion. The crisis challenged the traditional wisdom about Asia's miracle economies, and led to an overhaul of the role of the government in regulating risky private ventures.
In the wake of this change the Korean future isn't clear. On one hand, a new generation of leaders has embraced the image of being a "strong" leader and has begun to experiment with market-oriented policies. On the other hand, a powerful domestic power base has made it difficult to make fundamental changes.
Disadvantages
The reemergence and influence of 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 a small group of creationist groups, led by a microbiologist named Bun-Sam Lim, the head of the Society for Textbook Revise (STR)--is pushing for its deletion from textbooks. STR believes that teaching evolution is promoting a "materialist atheism" and portrays a "unhopeful worldview" for students. This could cause them to lose their faith in humanity.
The roots of this anti-evolutionary sentiment are a bit ambiguous 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 tanks, business interests and other influential organizations, has also exacerbated public mistrust of the scientific community.
Ultimately, the widespread weaknesses identified in this study highlight the urgent need more info for targeted policy interventions to mitigate these vulnerabilities. As Seoul continues to pursue its goal of becoming a more cohesive urban landscape, these insights can be used to inspire an unifying push for greater inclusivity in its policies.
In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying vulnerable neighborhoods and their occupants is essential for crafting detailed compassionate policy measures to bolster their security and well-being. The COVID-19 epidemic's disproportionate impact on Jjokbangs for instance, reflects socio-economic disparities which could increase vulnerability to natural and man-made catastrophes.
To overcome this, South Korea needs a more inclusive civil society that can bring all communities together to tackle the city's biggest challenges. This requires a radical change in the structure and power of institutional politics. 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, all of which do not have any oversight from parliamentarians or independent inspection agencies. This gives the president the ability to dictate their own vision on the rest the country. This recipe can result in polarization and stagnation of the country.