Extraordinary Woo Young Woo misses mark depicting autistic people
Korean drama, Extraordinary Woo Young Woo has been the new Korean film in the spotlight. However, this series is different in that the main character is autistic. Despite the representation it brings into the Korean drama industry, critics are concerned about the stereotypes the character brings into the show.
September 7, 2022
Netflix is home to yet another Korean drama, Extraordinary Attorney Woo. The 16-part TV series set numerous records, with 77.4 million hours watched; the show became the most viewed show during August and took over the Netflix Top 10 chart.
This show stands out with its main character, Woo Young-woo, played by actress Park Eun-bin being autistic. The series follows Young-woo as she navigates her way through her attorney career. Through it all, it is evident that with Young-woo’s extreme intelligence, she is able to come up with brilliant solutions to legal issues.
When given the role opportunity, Park Eun-bin was hesitant to accept it as she was aware of the impact the character would have worldwide. The character also brought up multiple challenges for Eun-bin.
“It was the first time that I had absolutely no idea what to do, when it came to how to express things, while I was reading the script,” she said on Agence France-Presse. “I knew [the show] was inevitably going to have an influence on people with autism and their families.”
In South Korea, the stigma surrounding disability is much more significant compared to the West. According to Son Da-eun of Autism Partnership Korea, those with autism are not represented in Korea.
You rarely have interactions with persons with autism on a daily basis. Historically, people with autism are kept home, hidden away from the world.
— Son Da-eun
“There is much more of a sense of shame, not just for individuals with disabilities but also for their families,” Da-eun said. “You rarely have interactions with persons with autism on a daily basis. Historically, people with autism are kept home, hidden away from the world.”
Despite the drama taking steps toward highlighting the challenges and discrimination faced by people with autism, the show has faced criticism for bringing unrealistic, stereotypical tropes into the show. The original Korean title, 이상한 변호사 우영우, translates to Weird Lawer Woo Young-woo begins the common critique of the ableist undertone prevalent throughout the show.
The writer, Moon Ji-won, spent a year with an early childhood special education professor to create an authentic character. This research was a significant step to ensuring an accurately written character, but it falls short when the show fails to hire disabled actors.
Woo Young-woo has a rare case of autism, Savant Syndrome, characterized by fantastic ability and talent. Because experts say these characteristics only exist in 2-10% of autistic people, the character fails to represent the general population. Critics are concerned that Young-woo’s character will impose unrealistic standards on real people with autism.
Even though the show gets a lot of things wrong when approaching the topic of autism, the show has been praised for its portrayal of ableism. In media representing disability, the writers and directors of the film usually present ableism in an exaggerated, overly aggressive way. Although these forms of discrimination can occur, more covert forms of discrimination are rarely seen in media.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo does a good job of highlighting other forms of discrimination. In numerous episodes, Young-Woo is faced with challenges due to the prejudices of her coworkers and clients. These scenes present a more common form of ableism such as exclusion from activities and sly comments. By showing some of the realities of autism, neurotypical viewers can reflect on their own prejudices and come away more educated on how to be a better ally.
Dawn • Apr 3, 2023 at 12:52 pm
My daughter is autistic, so I was especially interested to see the programme. I absolutely loved it and felt they’d put a lot of work into making the character believable. The only slight issue I had was how Woo Young Woo’s make up was always perfectly on point and although her outfits were geeky, they were obviously expensive and she had many of them. I don’t think Woo would be particularly interested in make up and clothes so this was a bit unbelievable. To be fair though, the programme needs to also be entertaining/glossy so not a problem on balance.
Russell Bateman • Apr 14, 2023 at 1:34 pm
I attributed the smart outfits to the fact that she’s a lawyer. I have a lawyer daughter also who wears tip-top clothes. I think it’s a profession thing. So the depiction makes the assumption that back at university instruction alerted her to needing to dress and make herself up perfectly. Also Young-woo’s father would have been a guide since he had graduated from law school too.
Howard MD • Jan 11, 2023 at 4:04 pm
Dear Ms. Rin Ryu, please let us know your qualification/degrees that allow you to state this show was made to depict autistic people and that it “misses (the) mark” You sound a little “preachy” to me.
Rachel C Suddeth • Jan 7, 2023 at 8:47 pm
Although the criticism is warranted, I really have to give them props for episode 3. They did a good job of pointing out the the title character is not representative of most ASD, showing someone with ASD who is far from her on the spectrum, and demonstrating harm caused to people with very different levels of functionality by people lumping them all together.
Simon Templar • Jan 4, 2023 at 2:55 pm
“… the character fails to represent the general population”. Why should she? Shows would be pretty damn boring if they just represented the general population. I don’t need to watch a show for that. I can just watch my neighbors.
Mary Kay Hopkins • Jan 3, 2023 at 11:33 am
I have watched each episode at least five times. At first I did not know why. I slowly began to appreciate the refreshing pure innocence of Atty Woo. How she handles rejection is beautiful. I came away looking forward to the next episodes in 2023. There are more lessons to be learned. Cudos to the writers of this great series!
Esther Kalpaxis • Jan 2, 2023 at 8:38 pm
I work as a teachers helper with a classroom of 8 ASD students that had to be vetted to enter our program . I am with the first graders . All I can say is amazing and Thank you so much .
This show has been an inspiration
Wanda Ingham • Jan 1, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Just finished episode 1, and admit the stereotype of the disabled is certainly present in this film. However, it must have taken huge amount of courage and ability for writers, executives and actors to address the issue in such a heart warming, smart and realistic manner. Kudos to the Korean professionals who produced the series.
Sarah • Dec 27, 2022 at 6:22 am
I personally love the show.
I have worked with children with autism spectrum.
I do not know everything, but some of the shows like the one with the kids in school for 12 hours eating late nights and knowing all that should have been put into the verdict to get him probation and maybe go work out something with his mom in opening a school together.
Also like the episode where the guy has to do time for having intercourse with his girlfriend who is disabled…
Instead of trying separate two people who love each other why not put them in couples counseling, but not were they are forcing their relationship, but understanding it, so they can love without being judged. I am sure just in any area in life there are the bad seeds who take advantage, but why should all suffer because of some. Just do a better job at catching the bad seeds before it spreads.
Furthermore, I hope another season comes on.
I have been waiting for what feels like forever, and keep seeing other shows come on, but not this one ?.
Barbra White • Dec 25, 2022 at 12:05 pm
Drawing awareness to Autism is the most important take away of the series. The show stresses Autism takes many faces. One of them is being a savant. The point is that they many can be productive members of society.
Joey • Dec 19, 2022 at 8:23 pm
As someone on the spectrum, though not quite the genius that Woo is in the series, I have to admit that I related with a lot of it. The acting to me was generally believable. The sticking point to me was that the walk was far too exaggerated, and with her level of intelligence, the self-inflicted harm(head smacking) is not prevalent in those who have autism which features a high level of intelligence or general cognisense. She absolutely got a lot of things correct though, as did the show writers. The part that actually got me choked up, unexpectedly, was when she is being coached not to say weird things, and to avoid whale talk at her first day working with the law firm. I manage an automotive shop and when it comes to honesty and blunt statements, it is my gift and my curse. If I don’t keep my tongue on a leash I will start rambling about things I learned from documentaries, when I was in cellular sales I once spent nearly an hour talking a customer’s ear off about denticles… I have been criticized everywhere I have ever worked, and even had my livelihood threatened over the chaotic nature of my thoughts and the way it can take over my speech if I let myself just flow. I have to be in a constant state of awareness about my words and my actions because it is very easy for me to end up in a lot of trouble for just being my natural self. I try not to allow it to make me bitter, but I am painfully aware that people prefer lies over my reckless truth-telling. I also got choked up when they talked about the way that everyone turned her down, without so much as a single replay to any of her applications. I spent a solid 2 years looking for a job after graduating college, and with more than 700 applications sent out, not a single call came in. That was around the time where I finally had some personal time and I started actually being able to recognize and learn about myself and my place among others in society, and I learned how to pretend to be normal. These days I average one job OFFER for every two applications, and I ALWAYS get an interview, because I learned how to win the game exclusively through manipulation. It’s easy to present yourself as exactly what they’re looking for when 100% of your social interactions are carefully calculated and simulated in your head a thousand times over, for fear of coming across as a fool or “worse”… autistic. 😉
Cait • Jan 10, 2023 at 7:55 pm
Hi Joey. I just want to thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences here. I think a lot of ‘neurotypical’ folks adopt a certain degree of ‘masking’ when in the work place as well, though i understand that it might look or feel different. I hope you have people around you for whom you feel you can be your natural and authentic self without critique!