jyu27:

South Korean Education System, Suicide, & Plastic Surgery

junebugkim:

absolute-best-posts:

In sixty short years, South Korea went from being one of the poorest countries in Asia to having the world’s 13th largest economy. Korean students have some of the highest test scores in the world, and a higher rate of acceptance into American Ivy Leagues than any other foreign country. But Korea also leads the world in two not quite so stunning ways- the highest rate of plastic surgery per capita, and a higher suicide rate than any other developed nation. 

So. What’s life like for a Korean student? In one of the most competitive societies in the world, how does one find their place? What does it take to achieve your aspirations and goals? Our documentary will take a look at the lives of five Korean teenagers on the verge of either reaching- or losing- their dreams. The film will follow the students during the most stressful time of their lives- their last year of high school. After studying for roughly sixteen hours each day, their futures boil down to one last exam. On November 10th, 2011, thousands of high school seniors will take a nine hour test that for many, will determine their economic and social status for the rest of their lives.

They have already reached the goal amount of fundraising and the film is scheduled to be finished on August 2012. visit their site for more info  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1877491487/documentary-on-korean-education

One year ago in August 2010, I left Korea with it still lingering on my heart. I wondered why it left such an impression, why I felt it I’d go back there sooner than later. And now there’s an urgency burning deeper and stronger. 

Within the next year. Your will be done. 

This made me sick. I couldn’t even watch it halfway because I thought I was gonna hurl. I wonder what good a documentary exposing the demons of Korean society will do, especially for a Western audience? Will it stop the madness? Or will it just cause us to criticize them without actual insight into the real spiritual darkness that’s driving this death culture? Will it just make a mockery of a seemingly superficial, cutthroat nation, or will it actually open and sustain dialogue into addressing these well hidden issues within Korean society itself? I feel like what we need is more of these students to get angry about these issues themselves, not just foreigners who hear about it and go in to investigate out of curiosity. We need these Korean students to take a bold stand and declare that they will break the vicious cycle of plastic surgery, suicide, cutthroat competition, etc. We need individuals who are willing to risk their “futures” and “dreams” of success, who take a stand against the parental pressures, societal pressures, and say NO MORE to all of this. We need a student led revolution, just like in the Middle East and Northern Africa. If this documentary will contribute to the seeds of that kind of uprising in Korean society, then I’ll endure the vomit to watch it.

(via andrewnacho)