The past few months have been a period of reflection for my family and me. We just returned from sabbatical, a year in Seoul, Korea, where I served as a Senior Fulbright Scholar. We are trying to make the most of this adventure by reflecting on what we liked most and least about our year, and being aware of our reactions to reimmersing ourselves in the United States. What lessons can we learn, and perhaps share? There are many observations, and perhaps a few lessons.

One contrast that weighs especially heavily is the absence of violence in Korea relative to the United States. Homicide causes fewer than 1,000 deaths in Korea each year. ...in a country of 45,000,000 people. This is a death rate of about one quarter that of the United States. Rapes, child molestation, kidnapping and other violent crimes are virtually unheard of. This is in a country that lost over one tenth of its population in the Korean war, and has technically remained at war with North Korea since 1952. Military service is mandatory for every Korean man, passionate discussions often evolve into drunken headed arguments, and some of the most important societal reforms were stimulated by student uprisings. The population density is 16 times greater than the United States, and far greater in Seoul, which has a population of over 12 million people. How can it be so safe?

It is so safe in Korea that the frequent riots between thousands of militant union members and equal numbers of riot police produce only a handful of cuts and bruises, and rarely any injuries that require hospitalization. My family and I felt comfortable walking virtually anywhere in Seoul, day or night. We felt comfortable allowing our 15 year old daughter to take subways and other forms of public transportation, often by herself and sometimes at night. In Michigan, we rarely let her go anywhere unless we or another parent drives. From a safety perspective, Seoul, Korea is that dreamland baby boomers grew up in, where you could feed a kid breakfast in the morning and let her go out to play and explore all day without worrying about her safety.

Why is Korea so safe? I asked this question of many of my colleagues, but few had complete answers, partly because they took safety for granted. The most common explanation was the foundation laid by Confucian teachings in which the king and his agents and parents were held in high esteem. A directive issued by government authorities (police) or parents is generally followed. Children want to make their parents proud. To this, I add a few of my own ideas... From the ruins of the Korean war, the people have built a society whose per capita income rose from $100 in 1960 to over $10,000 in 1996. Unemployment has hovered around 3% until the recent economic crisis. Most people have had the means to secure adequate food and shelter, and few people are disenfranchised; most have felt they are a contributing partner in the growth of society. Students are so busy studying for school and playing sports, they rarely have free time to get in trouble. The extended family unit is strong. Parents continue to support their children well into their 30's, and when the parents are no longer able to support the children, the children support the parents. There is always a strong sense of looking after younger siblings or answering to older siblings. Networks of classmates from high school and college remain strong, usually for life, providing another source of support and regulation. Personal ownership of guns is severely restricted and use of illegal drugs is very rare and not glamorized by any elements of society.