The South Korean President declared martial law on December 4th, 2024. The world watched with amazement as the Korean people rallied to their National Assembly in the middle of the night. Lawmakers pushed through police and soldiers to gain access to their parliament and voted to overturn martial law within six hours. What lies underneath this strong reaction? What's happening in the aftermath? And what can we learn from it?

We all encounter circumstances, people, and conversations that scare us. It is natural for our defenses to automatically kick into gear, preparing us to fight or escape at any cost. This is why I am amazed whenever I meet people who instead manage to pause their defense reactions long enough to engage their curiosity and seek to better understand their partner in conflict. This kind of dialogue is truly courageous.