[Limelight·Woo Young-woo①] "Pride!" The Miracle Emotion Achieved Through Symbiosis

Focus on Social Integration and Growth of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder... Call for Social Change and Efforts
Whale on the Frontline in the Same Context: "First Case of Proactive Suspension of Commercial Exploitation"

The drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo begins each episode in Woo Young-woo's (Park Eun-bin) room. It is filled with items representing whales. Kinetic art mobiles, desk clocks, pot holders, keychains... Whales are her favorite animals. She is so obsessed that she associates evidence from cases with whales.

"This iron definitely resembles a sperm whale." "Sperm whale?" "Yes, the sperm whale, also called the cachalot, got its name because of the large, square organ in its head called the spermaceti organ..." "Aren't you focusing on the case?" "Ah, sorry. No more whale talk."

Woo Young-woo has a unique form of autism spectrum disorder. She remembers everything she reads without missing a detail. This is known as savant syndrome. Writer Moon Ji-won does not only highlight her genius. The focus is on her growth as an ordinary member of society. By faithfully portraying Woo Young-woo's perspective, the drama urges societal change and effort. The whales prominently featured share this same context.

The United Nations (UN) Conference on the Human Environment declared whales a common heritage of mankind in 1972 and pushed for a ban on whaling. Most countries welcomed this eco-friendly movement. Australia was the last English-speaking country to join in 1977. It was not about future hunting rights. Based on the logic that whales are special and intelligent beings, Australia even enacted whale protection laws in 1980. This major shift led to a global ban on commercial whaling in 1982. Charlotte Epstein, a professor of international relations at the University of Sydney, described it as "the first case of proactively halting commercial exploitation of global natural resources."

The value of the change and effort demanded by Extraordinary Attorney Woo is coexistence. It dreams of liberation from the ridicule, contempt, and ostracism experienced by people with autism spectrum disorder. Woo Young-woo still frequently uses echolalia. She struggles to express her own will while avoiding others' gazes. However, with the care and support of her family, friends, and colleagues, she succeeds in new challenges. These are not grand experiences. She passes through revolving doors on her own to go to work. Moving in rhythm, slipping through the door gap, she gains the courage to overcome another obstacle. "Pride! The name of the feeling I have this morning is pride."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.