Evolution Korea
Korean scientists don't take chances in the fight over evolution. The Society for Textbook Revise has been fighting to get rid of Archaeopteryx horses, the Archaeopteryx, and other evolutionary icons from textbooks.
Confucian practices, with their emphasis on global success and the value of education, still dominate the culture of the country. However, Korea is searching for a new paradigm 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 a unique culture which blended with the influence of their powerful neighbours and also embraced various aspects of Chinese culture, especially Confucianism and Buddhism, although shamanism continued to be practised too.
Goguryeo, the first of the Korean kingdoms was the first to impose their own form of government. It established a king centered system of governance in the early 2nd century. It expanded its territory into Manchuria and the north of the Peninsula through a series conflicts that drove the Han loyalists out of the region.
It was during this time that a regional confederation was formed called Buyeo. In the Samguk yusa of the 13th century Wang Geon's name was listed as the king. Buyeo was renamed Goryeo and, consequently, the name Korea. Goryeo was a major commercial state and a centre of learning. Its inhabitants cultivated crops and raised livestock such as goats and sheep and they made furs from them as well. They performed masked dance-dramas like tallori and sandaenori, and celebrated an annual festival in December called Yeonggo.
The economy of Goryeo was stimulated by rapid trade, including with the Song Dynasty in China. Traders from Central Asia, Arabia, Southeast Asia and Japan came to Byeongnando the gateway to the capital city of Gaeseong. Among the goods they brought included silk and medicinal herbs.
From around 8,000 BCE 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 lasted until the 12th century BC. Around this time Gija, a prince of the Shang dynasty of China, purportedly introduced a 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 traditional model of development, which was based on the state's capital accumulation and government intervention in business and industry, contributed to a rapid economic growth that took it from being one of the poorest nations in the world to the ranks of OECD nations in just three years. This model was rife with moral hazards and outright corruption. It was therefore unsustainable in a world economy characterized by liberalization, trade, and the process of democratization.
The current crisis has revealed the weaknesses of the current model, and it is expected that another model will replace it. Chapters 3 and 4 look at the genesis of Korea's business-government risk partnership, and show how the development of economic actors who have an interest in preserving this model prevented it from adopting fundamental reforms. By focusing on corporate governance and financial resource allocation, these chapters provide a detailed examination of the underlying causes of the crisis and point to the best ways to move forward through reforms.
Chapter 5 examines possibilities for Korea's post-crisis paradigm of development, exploring both the legacies of the past, as well as the new trends triggered by the IT revolution. It also examines how these trends will impact Korea's current political and social structures.
One of the most significant findings is that a variety of emerging trends are altering the power structure in Korea, and it is these trends that will determine the course of the country's future. For example, despite the fact that participation in politics is still highly restricted in Korea new ways of political activism bypass and challenge political parties, thus transforming democratic structure of the country.
Another important point is that the influence and power of the Korean elite has waned. A large portion of the society feels disconnected from the ruling class. This is a sign of the need for more civic education and participation and new models of power sharing. Ultimately, the chapter concludes that the success or failure of Korea's development model will depend on how well these new developments can be incorporated into a willingness to make hard choices.
Benefits
South Korea has the ninth largest economy in the world, and the sixth fastest-growing. It has a growing middle class as well as an extensive R&D infrastructure which drives innovation. Additionally the government has recently increased investments in infrastructure projects to help economic growth and promote social equity.
In 2008, the Lee Myung-bak administration released five indicators of leadership in an effort to establish a new system of development with the emphasis on changes and practicality. It attempted to streamline the government organization, privatize public corporations equipped with higher efficiency, and also to reform administrative regulations.
Since the end of Cold War, South Korea pursues a strategy of integration of its economy with the rest of the world and outside the region. Exports of high-tech consumer electronics as well as advanced manufacturing technologies have become an important source of income. The government has also been promoting Saemaeul Undong, which is a new movement of the community, to transform the country from one that is primarily agricultural to one that is focused on manufacturing.
The country enjoys a high quality of life and offers numerous benefits to its employees such as maternity leave, and job stability. Employers are also required to purchase to accident insurance, which provides the cost of workplace-related illnesses or injuries. In why not try here , it is typical for businesses to offer private medical insurance that provides coverage for illness not covered by National Health Insurance.
As a result, South Korea has been considered a model of success for many of the developing countries around the world. The global financial crisis of 1997, which swept through Asia has challenged this perception. The crisis shattered the conventional wisdom about Asia’s miracle economies, and prompted an entirely new understanding of the role of governments in managing risky private activities.
It seems that Korea's fate remains uncertain in the wake of these changes. A new generation of leaders have adopted the image of an "strong leader" and begun to explore market-oriented policies. On the other hand, a strong domestic power base has made it difficult to make fundamental changes.
Advantages
The revival and influence of the creationists is a major hurdle for Korean science in its efforts to educate the public on evolution. The majority of Koreans support teaching evolution to students however a small group headed by Bun-Sam Lim (the head of the Society for Textbook Revise, STR) is pushing for the removal of evolution from textbooks. STR claims that teaching evolution encourages an "materialist atheism" and reflects an "unhopeful worldview" for students. This can cause students to lose faith in humanity.
The reasons behind this anti-evolution sentiment 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. In addition the one-sidedness of the government, supported by powerful conservative business interests and think tanks, aggravates public distrust of the scientific community.
The wide-ranging weaknesses that were identified in this study indicate the urgent need for targeted policy interventions to reduce the risks. These findings will assist Seoul to achieve its goal of creating an urban landscape that is cohesive.
In the COVID-19 case, pinpointing the vulnerable neighborhoods and their occupants will be crucial to drafting specific, compassionate policies that will bolster their welfare and safety. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Jjokbangs for instance, reflects socio-economic disparities which can compound vulnerability to both natural and man-made catastrophes.
To overcome this, South Korea needs a more inclusive civil society that can bring all communities together to solve the city's most pressing challenges. This requires a fundamental shift in the structure and power of the institution of politics. The Blue House can mobilize a large bureaucracy and utilize the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, and the intelligence bureau to exert political influence. These agencies aren't subject to any checks by the parliamentary bodies or independent inspectors. This gives the president tremendous influence to enforce his or her own vision on the rest of the country. This is a recipe that could lead to polarization and stagnation of the country.