In an ambitious new project, nineteen-year old Kelley Katzenmeyer is currently directing a documentary film, which concerns the everyday lives of Korean high school students, as well as the respective pressures put on them to achieve academic and aesthetic perfection.
South Korea has undoubtedly come far, the documentary states, in 60 short years of transforming from one of the world’s poorest countries into one of the most developed. The nation now boasts of the world’s 12th largest GDP, an impressively advanced technology industry, and some of the highest test scores in the International Student Assessment. However, as the film goes on to explore, the intense competition and pressure that South Korean students face— concerning not only their educational career, but also their appearance—may be manifesting itself into more dangerous expressions. For along with these remarkable results also come the highest suicide rates within the industrialized world, as well as a cosmetic surgery procedure rate twice that of the United States.
Katzenmeyer, who was first skeptical, and then intrigued by her friends’ comments about the severity of Korean education (Korean high school students study an average of 16 hours a day) decided to experience the system herself. What she found while studying abroad in Korea surprised her: there was an intrinsic link between the dominating, parallel pursuits of beauty and study. In retrospect, however, this did not seem so surprising after all.
“It seems like it’s about the same thing—self-worth and your status in society,” says the young filmmaker. Katzenmeyer also noted the existence of a distinct ideal imagined in the country, which she says often includes a SKY (Korean Ivy League) education and a well-paying job, as well as the ever-important physical appearance.
Although the subject matter will definitely capture the interest of Americans in its glimpse into such a contrast-filled society, Katzenmeyer has stated that she feels it to be of even more importance to Korean high school students themselves—especially those that she became friendly with during her study abroad. “We’re hoping that with this film, we can reduce the stress that students feel to be academically perfect… and to look a certain [way].”
There is no doubt that Katzenmeyer’s film—set to be finished in the August of 2012— will be a success in both aspects.
For more information about the project, please visit the film’s website at www.KoreanHighSchool.com.
I heard about this movie too, long time ago! I can’t wait for it to come out this August.