Some 9 years ago, this project caught my eye as I was a recent instructor in the Korean national education system via their English Program in Korea. For a paltry $25, I donated to help fund the project in the hopes it would eventually come to fruition. I later learned that after many health, financial, and other roadblocks, the documentary was completed in 2020. The cost of the film exceeded the total raised by Kickstarter by a factor of 20.
Now, we are seeing the result of a project that spans years -- and successfully gives closure to some of the very personal stories that Kelley Katzenmeyer chose to tell through Permission to Exist.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film as I had personal investment in seeing it succeed; it touches on things that interest me; and the painstaking story of the young woman who created it was very compelling.
This documentary is by no means a comprehensive look at the Korean educational system. It highlights one specific area, the College Scholastic Ability Test, or in romanized Korean, the Suneung. It's a grueling test that shapes the outcomes for young Koreans both in university and beyond. All Koreans take the test; their entire school career revolves around passing this capstone exam.
In the documentary, Kelley's interviewees help the viewer examine issues of mental health, suicide, self image, plastic surgery, parental influence, self expectation, self pity, and many others. The stories are intertwined with interpretive dances and sketches that visualize some of the mental pain and anguish young Koreans experience trying to pass with high marks and move on to top-tier universities.
As I mentioned above, I had a very niche interest in this film having lived in Korea and been part of the machine that guides students to the meat grinder that is the Suneung. However, I give the documentary 8 stars as I do not see it having an immensely wide audience beyond non-Koreans who already have a pre-existing interest in Korean culture. Surely, as the story is told largely by Koreans, little is revealed to Korean nationals. And - would that be received well by Korean elders, in any case? In the US, I know of a number of people I recommended the video to, including my spouse, who only has been to Korea once (with me, on our honeymoon).
Overall, if you would like to watch a documentary with great artistic direction, pointed storytelling, cultural insights, and pure passion, I can wholeheartedly recommend Permission to Exist. Just keep in mind it's only part of the picture of a textured, nuanced culture.
Now, we are seeing the result of a project that spans years -- and successfully gives closure to some of the very personal stories that Kelley Katzenmeyer chose to tell through Permission to Exist.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film as I had personal investment in seeing it succeed; it touches on things that interest me; and the painstaking story of the young woman who created it was very compelling.
This documentary is by no means a comprehensive look at the Korean educational system. It highlights one specific area, the College Scholastic Ability Test, or in romanized Korean, the Suneung. It's a grueling test that shapes the outcomes for young Koreans both in university and beyond. All Koreans take the test; their entire school career revolves around passing this capstone exam.
In the documentary, Kelley's interviewees help the viewer examine issues of mental health, suicide, self image, plastic surgery, parental influence, self expectation, self pity, and many others. The stories are intertwined with interpretive dances and sketches that visualize some of the mental pain and anguish young Koreans experience trying to pass with high marks and move on to top-tier universities.
As I mentioned above, I had a very niche interest in this film having lived in Korea and been part of the machine that guides students to the meat grinder that is the Suneung. However, I give the documentary 8 stars as I do not see it having an immensely wide audience beyond non-Koreans who already have a pre-existing interest in Korean culture. Surely, as the story is told largely by Koreans, little is revealed to Korean nationals. And - would that be received well by Korean elders, in any case? In the US, I know of a number of people I recommended the video to, including my spouse, who only has been to Korea once (with me, on our honeymoon).
Overall, if you would like to watch a documentary with great artistic direction, pointed storytelling, cultural insights, and pure passion, I can wholeheartedly recommend Permission to Exist. Just keep in mind it's only part of the picture of a textured, nuanced culture.
