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Permission to Exist poster
IMDb20201h 45mSouth Korea, United States of America

Permission to Exist

“The quest for self-acceptance in a world that demands perfection”

Synopsis

In just sixty years, South Korea went from being one of the poorest countries on the Asian continent to having the 12th largest economy in the entire world. Every year, it is measured that Korean students have some of the highest test scores and a higher rate of acceptance into Ivy League schools compared to all other nations. But on the flip side, South Korea also has one of the highest suicide rates in the developed world, the highest gender pay gap of all developed countries, and the highest plastic surgery rate per capita. Always expected to receive top scores and constantly bombarded by media and messages that seem to demand nothing short of visual “perfection,” how do these individuals come to accept and learn to love themselves as they are?

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

December 3, 2020

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Kelley Katzenmeyer
Screenplay & Story
Douglas Blush, Jaeho Lee, Bo Yeon Kim, Paul Stafford
Original Score
Brian Bell, Ryan Brideau, Kierra Gray, Pascal Le Beouf, Steffen Schmidt, Max Witt
Original Title
Permission to Exist
Country of Origin
South Korea, United States of America
Spoken Languages
English, Korean
Runtime
1h 45m
Production Studios
Indie Doorway LLC

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Kelley Katzenmeyer

Screenplay & Story

Douglas Blush, Jaeho Lee, Bo Yeon Kim, Paul Stafford

Original Score & Music

Brian Bell, Ryan Brideau, Kierra Gray, Pascal Le Beouf, Steffen Schmidt, Max Witt

Film Editing

Kelley Katzenmeyer, Jae Ho Lee, Jaeho Lee

Producers

Douglas Blush, Cheol-Young Kim, Jaeho Lee, Kelley Katzenmeyer, Bo Yeon Kim

Department Leadership Roster

Kelley Katzenmeyer

Director

Douglas Blush

Douglas Blush

Writer

Jaeho Lee

Writer

Bo Yeon Kim

Writer

Paul Stafford

Writer

Douglas Blush

Douglas Blush

Producer

Cheol-Young Kim

Producer

Jaeho Lee

Producer

Kelley Katzenmeyer

Producer

Bo Yeon Kim

Producer

Kelley Katzenmeyer

Editor

Jae Ho Lee

Editor

Jaeho Lee

Editor

Jean Rheem

Editor

Official cinematic photography and background stills for Permission to Exist.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Permission to Exist

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is Permission to Exist about?

In just sixty years, South Korea went from being one of the poorest countries on the Asian continent to having the 12th largest economy in the entire world. Every year, it is measured that Korean students have some of the highest test scores and a higher rate of acceptance into Ivy League schools compared to all other nations. But on the flip side, South Korea also has one of the highest suicide rates in the developed world, the highest gender pay gap of all developed countries, and the highest plastic surgery rate per capita. Always expected to receive top scores and constantly bombarded by media and messages that seem to demand nothing short of visual “perfection,” how do these individuals come to accept and learn to love themselves as they are?

Who directed Permission to Exist?

Permission to Exist was directed by Kelley Katzenmeyer.

Who stars in Permission to Exist?

The principal cast of Permission to Exist includes Not specified.

When was Permission to Exist released and how long is it?

Permission to Exist was released in 2020 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.

Who composed the musical score for Permission to Exist?

The original motion picture soundtrack for Permission to Exist was composed by Brian Bell, Ryan Brideau, Kierra Gray, Pascal Le Beouf, Steffen Schmidt, Max Witt.