Overview

Park investigates the unexpected success of early Korean creationists, who were mostly scientists, and argues that creationism is not a product of the lack of intelligence or proper scientific education but a consequence of more profound social developments in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Known as the religious belief rejecting evolutionary theory, creationism has become a global issue. Although it was often known as a problem unique among fundamentalist Protestants in the United States, it has been appropriated by people with diverse religions around the world, including Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Many scientists and educators perceive this dissemination as a threat to modern pedagogy and scholarship, although few of them are aware of its historical and cultural contexts. Through an intensive study of the birth and growth of the anti-evolutionary movement in South Korea during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, this book traces an important part of this worldwide movement against evolution. The author argues that South Korean creationism started from the country's past as a developmental state during the Cold War but proliferated further amid subsequent democratization and globalization. Creationism reflected the new identifications of some Korean scientists and engineers with evangelical faith, who actively formed their own domain outside of the state hegemony and authority. This book is a valuable reference for scholars interested in the dynamic interaction between science and religion in East Asia.

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9781032757155

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Reviews

'This book is a must-read for scholar who look for a comprehensive account of the history and present ramifications of creationism in South Korea.' Jong Hyung Jung, Associate Professor of Sociology at Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea 'Hyung Wook Park’s recent work provides a nuanced analysis of the historical and cultural forces shaping modern South Korea’s creationist movements, illustrating how science, religion, and education are shaped by Indigenous traditions, political transformations, and global currents.' Xiaoxing Jin, Independent Researcher 'The book offers a unique vantage point from which to view South Korean society. This book is for anyone interested in Korean society and anyone interested in the global spread of ideas.' Erik Mobrand, Associate Professor, Seoul National University

Author Information

Hyung Wook Park is a historian based in Singapore. He has extensively studied the histories of biomedical research, evolutionary ideas, and the science–religion interfaces. His papers include “Science, State, and Spirituality” (2018). Along with Ronald Numbers, Park edited “Creationism in Asia, Oceania, and Eastern Europe” (2021).

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