Attorney woo (Park Eun-bin) is an encyclopedic lawyer and whale expert with a unique method of thinking. She utilizes both her legal knowledge and insight from whales to solve complex cases.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is an international hit K-Drama, and it’s easy to see why. From its delightful soundtrack and office romance storylines to its endearing characters and plot twists, Extraordinary Attorney Woo is sure to please its audience.
1. She is a palindrome
Attorney Woo (Park Eun Bin) knows how to grab her audience’s attention. She often opens her speeches by providing them with a list of palindromes; that is, words or phrases which read the same forward and backward. These could include kayak, deed, rotator, noon and racecar – as examples.
Attorney Woo’s greatest strength is her deep legal knowledge, which has won her many difficult cases. Additionally, she has an obsession with whales that she uses to her advantage when making decisions in court cases.
She can quickly recognize when a case is prime for picking, as her keen sense of sight allows her to spot all sorts of legal details that most cannot. Furthermore, she possesses an extraordinary memory for names which helps when dealing with unique ones.
First case as an attorney: simple yet challenging
When she asked the landlady what made this case so interesting, she mentioned how an elderly man had been attacked by a crazed neighbor – providing a dramatic plot twist – as well as that he has dementia and is living in a nursing home.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a fast-paced K-drama that takes its time establishing all the characters and their dynamics, from BFF Dong Geu-ra-mi (Joo Hyun-young) to her supportive colleague Choi Su-yeon (Ha Yoon-kyung). While Young-woo has an amorous romance with Hanbada litigator Lee Jun-ho (Joo Hyun-young), Young-woo’s relationships with her colleagues make this show truly exceptional.
2. She is a savant
Attorney Woo (Park Eun-bin) is an extraordinary individual with an extraordinary mind, capable of memorizing entire books and recalling complex information quickly and effortlessly. Additionally, she’s an exceptional legal mind able to solve complicated cases in just seconds.
Woo is living with Savant Syndrome, a rare disorder which affects only a minority of autistic individuals and bestows them with remarkable abilities. While some view savant syndrome as a way for autistics to compensate for sensory deficits and social isolation, others view it as part of autism rather than as an anomaly of it.
Woo Young-woo is a savant with autism who has garnered significant criticism from viewers living with the condition, who feel his portrayal on screen is misleading and inaccurate and fails to represent high-functioning autistic people at all.
At present, many high-functioning autism sufferers don’t possess savant skills – and those that do are few in number. Autism is much more challenging than its depicted in Extraordinary Attorney Woo.
After watching the first episode, I couldn’t help but wonder if this series might be sending unintended messages about autism and savant syndrome that could potentially have an adverse impact on real-life individuals living with these conditions. Luckily, I had the chance to interview several individuals living with both conditions.
Some participants expressed concerns that the show might misrepresent their experiences while others said that they appreciated seeing themselves on screen. One individual who had never spoken publicly about autism before felt like the show gave her an opportunity to open up and share her journey.
3. She is a sexy lawyer
Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-Bin) finally takes to practicing law after excelling during her law school studies. Graduating from one of Korea’s premier law schools makes her an highly esteemed attorney.
And she still faces prejudices and challenges when joining a major law firm, even with her brilliant intellect and awkward social skills. For her first case she will face charges against an elderly woman accused of assault with an iron against her husband.
The show’s witty writing and charming characters make for an enjoyable watching experience, and it is easy to see that autism is seen more as an asset than an obstacle – we cheer her on as she strives to overcome it!
Attorney woo is one of the show’s greatest delights; her ability to spot legal loopholes no one else could is an exhilarating treat. Though she knows every law known to mankind, Attorney Woo still manages to find new ways of breaking it down that no one else could see.
She can recognize subtle things that other lawyers might overlook, like understanding attorney-client privilege. Additionally, she’s known to be quite funny with an extraordinary talent for telling jokes.
Attractive and charismatic, she’s one of the most engaging lawyers you’ll meet. Furthermore, she strongly backs up her team and loves being around them all.
Woo is an exceptional hero who overcomes obstacles to achieve greatness. Her determination is inspiring, while her stubbornness makes us root for her even when her actions cause her failure. Furthermore, the show shows the power of love as Woo opens her heart up to allow a sense of fulfillment into her life for the first time ever.
4. She is a witty lawyer
Attorney woo (Eun-bin Park) experiences her first job as a lawyer at Hanbada with considerable skepticism. With help from Jung Myung Seok and Lee Jun Ho, however, she overcomes any initial difficulties, though quickly realizes she doesn’t fit the typical neurotypical mold of a lawyer.
As she begins her first case as an attorney defending a company against gender discrimination allegations, colleagues attempt to portray her as unsuitable for the position. But she proves her strength by finding creative solutions for problems rather than accepting half-truths or compromises from colleagues.
As well as legal difficulties, she often must deal with social issues related to her workplace’s abusive treatment of married women, whale and dolphin welfare issues which often make an appearance in courtroom proceedings, compassion for others who have experienced exploitation compel her to fight for their rights and fight to bring about change for those impacted by injustices in society.
Though this series takes an often humorous, over-the-top approach to autism, it never loses its emotional depth. Furthermore, it avoids overtly mean-spirited depictions or K-drama cliches for an enjoyable viewing experience – making it a welcome addition among other shows that tackle neurological disabilities without being overtly judgmental or stereotyping.
Young-woo has an engaging personality despite her autism that allows her to excel at law firm work. She can get along well with coworkers, and even has one quirky friend outside work who shares similar characteristics. Young-woo also uses her intelligence and photographic memory as tools in helping her advance at law firm work.
5. She is a good lawyer
At her first trial, attorney Woo is overcome by anxiety and struggles to stay composed. Her attorney, Jung Myung Seok tries to imitate her voice in answering yes but soon gets caught; upon realizing his mistake he apologizes to his client.
In Korea, it’s uncommon to come across lawyers capable of remembering entire books of laws or complex sets of information without mishap. Even more rarely seen is someone with disabilities able to represent clients effectively in court proceedings.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is now changing that. Featuring Park Eun-bin as the protagonist, it follows her journey as an autistic young woman as she seeks out employment at Hanbada – one of Seoul’s largest law firms.
The series serves a critical purpose of increasing awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in South Korea, where there can be considerable shame and stigma attached to disabilities. Furthermore, viewers will be challenged to recognize and combat ableism within their daily lives.
Park Eun-bin was very determined to portray autism accurately during her casting as she read up and met with Korean special educators to ensure the show accurately represented it. She spent considerable time reading up on its features as well as interviewing someone living with autism to ensure the show accurately represented life with autism.
Even with her autistic nature, she is an exceptional lawyer and highly intelligent individual. Her photographic memory and fast learning make her an indispensable member of Hanbada’s team.