South Korea: Awake & Sing

South Korea’s new military rulers are zealously puritanical men. Last week the generals issued a 74-point manifesto calling for “voluntary reform” of a whole host of questionable habits, ranging from failure to pay taxes to being late for appointments.

Korean women were advised not to wear jewelry, to “shun housemaids” and do their own housework, and to help “enlighten the public on the need for contraceptives.” Korean men got the word to “refrain from exchanging vain tokens,” to “avoid haggling over prices,” and “to shake off the idea of making ‘quick money.’ ” Both men and women were urged to greet each other each morning with the words “Let’s reconstruct!” (foreign residents, including U.S. troops, “will also be encouraged to exchange this greeting”). To keep Koreans on their toes, there will be daily “reconstruction calisthenics” and, just in case any feel downhearted, the “emotional aspects of life” are to be “heightened with public songs stressing antiCommunism, independence, brotherhood and reconstruction, which will be written and sung by all.”