Extraordinary Attorney Woo (or 이상한 변호사 우영우) is a hit South Korean TV drama currently streaming on Netflix. The 16-episode series features the story of Woo Young-woo (played by Park Eun-bin), a lawyer with “autism spectrum disorder,” as she navigates professional and personal situations while dealing with the challenges of autism.
Woo has genius-level intelligence and a photographic memory, yet struggles to communicate, handle sensory input, and process emotion and intellectual nuance. She also is obsessed with whales, speaks and moves awkwardly, and has certain physical affectations and compulsive tendencies. Consequently, despite graduating law school with top honors, she is not able to find employment until Han Seon-young (Baek Ji-won), CEO of the high-powered Hanbada law firm, gives her an opportunity, which is where the show begins. (We’ll avoid spoilers as best we can!)
The feel-good, uplifting K-drama has become a global sensation, notching some of Netflix’s highest ratings ever for a non-English show. (All dialogue is in Korean with English subtitles.) The show has garnered high praise from autism advocates for Eun-bin’s realistic portrayal of an atypical young woman with autism as well as its respectful approach of presenting the challenges involved for a person on the spectrum, particularly in a nation that is not as progressive in accepting autism. (Eun-bin originally declined the role, citing concerns over playing a character with autism as she is not on the spectrum, and did not want to potentially offend those who are.)
As a parent of someone who has been diagnosed on the autism spectrum yet is academically high-achieving and also pursuing a career in law, the show resonates personally. In addition, there are many positive moments throughout the series that can provide lessons for anyone working with or teaching students with autism.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo: Autism is a Spectrum
In an early episode, Woo’s law firm takes on the case of a young man with autism who is charged with assaulting his older brother. Woo is asked to join the defense team, specifically to help communicate with the defendant, whose autism manifests in severe communication and mental age challenges.
At first Woo is reluctant, noting that autism is a spectrum, and expecting her to somehow be able to communicate with someone very much unlike her despite a common diagnosis isn’t realistic. Nonetheless, Woo does find a unique way for her team to communicate with the young man who is obsessed with Pengsoo, a popular Korean animated character.
Students with autism can present very differently, which can range from the academically gifted Woo to those who have significant difficulties learning. Just as with students without autism, trying different communication approaches until discovering the one that best connects with a specific student may often be necessary. One teaching style does not fit all those on the autism spectrum.
Be Open to Different Thought Processes
At the beginning of the series, “rookie” attorney Woo is assigned to senior attorney Jung Myung-seok (Kang Ki-young), who is tasked with mentoring her. Very skeptical about Woo’s ability to be a competent attorney, Jung immediately goes to Han and demands to not be saddled with an attorney who has questionable social skills and cannot speak eloquently. Han points out Woo’s impeccable academic qualifications, saying, “If Hanbada doesn’t bring in such a talent, who will?” They agree to give Woo a case to determine if she is actually qualified for her position.
Despite her seemingly odd approach, Woo very quickly proves her legal expertise, dispelling Jung’s initial prejudices and assumptions. He formally apologizes, and as the series goes along, embraces Woo’s unorthodox thinking and solutions.
Many students with autism may focus on details before concepts, versus those without autism who may be more prone to top-down thinking. They may also have fewer challenges processing logic-based arguments while struggling with open-ended questions or understanding that there may be alternative perspectives or ways of thinking. Providing space and opportunity for divergent thinking is often necessary for students with autism.
Kindness Matters
One of Woo’s “rookie” colleagues at the law firm, Choi Su-yeo (Ha Yoon-kyung) is a former law school classmate. Although Choi is jealous of Woo’s legal expertise from their school days and is sometimes impatient with Woo’s autism-related challenges, she begrudgingly watches out for Woo, helping her through awkward moments and to navigate social interactions.
Because of Woo’s struggles to acknowledge the emotions and efforts of others, Choi assumes that her actions have gone unnoticed until she jokingly asks Woo to give her a nickname and discovers that Woo was paying attention the whole time. (Warning: Keep a tissue handy in case it gets dusty at your house like it does at mine whenever I watch this scene.)
Although students with autism may have a hard time processing their own feelings, that doesn’t mean they don’t notice how others treat them. Kindness, patience, and grace are necessary, and often deeply appreciated, if not articulated.
Kids on the Spectrum Are Still Kids
Woo faces a lot of discrimination and outright hostility due to her autism, yet repeatedly tells her father and others that she just wants to be treated like everyone else.
Enter the irrepressible Dong Geu-ra-mi (Joo Hyun-young). A true BFF, Dong sees Woo for who she is at her core, constantly supports and advises her, and even jokes with and good-naturedly teases her, all of which deepens their friendship. (Dong also has a special enthusiastic greeting with Woo.) In short, Dong is just Woo’s friend, with no special treatment involved.
Woo repeatedly says she wants to be allowed to fail and make her own mistakes, and learn from it. Although many students with autism have special needs, they also have typical human needs. Balancing that line between making accommodations and treating someone on the spectrum like everyone else can be challenging but is critical to their overall success.
Some Days You’re Just Going to Have to Be Strong
Although Woo constantly demonstrates internal strength and determination in working to overcome the challenges involved with her autism, maybe no one shows more fortitude throughout the series than her father, Woo Gwang-ho (Jeon Bae-soo).
The elder Woo raises his daughter as a single father, a task hard enough under normal circumstances, let alone with a child on the spectrum. He makes her special meals, removes tags from clothes, helps her to learn to process emotions, and provides counsel and endless support. Woo’s autism often keeps her mind focused on herself, so he does much of this without appreciation, although that doesn’t deter him.
Of course, you expect a parent to have that kind of love for their child. Lee Jun-ho (Kang Tae-oh), a paralegal at Hanbada and Woo’s romantic interest, also demonstrates extraordinary strength throughout the series.
As Woo herself points out, dealing with and having feelings for someone like her who struggles with feelings can be very hard. Often Woo is blunt and doesn’t understand the nuances of a romantic relationship, forcing Lee into many potentially awkward moments. Despite his frustration at times, he is eternally patient and kind, and supports Woo in every way possible. For example, after witnessing a violent traffic accident, Woo goes into a sensory meltdown and Lee has to comfort her with an exceptionally tight hug.
While that kind of actual physical strength is usually not necessary in a classroom, having a bottomless reservoir of patience and understanding for one student, especially when there are other students who all have their own needs as well, can be daunting some days. Reaching deep for that extra bit of strength can be a big ask, but remember that a student with autism is often already pushing hard to try and fit in.
Or as Woo’s father says: “If you want good grades, study. If you want to lose weight, exercise. If you want to communicate, make an effort. Methods are always obvious. What's hard is accomplishing them.” Putting in the effort with a student on the autism spectrum often requires extra strength, but ultimately can provide extra satisfaction.
