"What Do You Think About Jeonjangyeon's Cartoon 'Woo Young-woo Does Not Cause Harm'?"

Jeonjangeon Critiques Woo Young-woo Drama and Disability Reality Through Cartoon
"In Reality, Disabled People Face Mockery and Insults"

Jeonjangyeon posted a cartoon comparing the popular drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," which features a character with an autism spectrum disorder. Photo by Jeonjangyeon Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Woo Young-woo does not harm others." , "It may seem paradoxical."

The 'National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon)', which continues its 'commuting subway protest' advocating for the budget guarantee of disability rights, posted a cartoon comparing the ENA drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' with themselves. Among citizens, various opinions are expressed such as "Is the drama the same as reality?", "Jeonjangyeon's unreasonable demands", and "Let's reconsider this opportunity".

On the 26th, Jeonjangyeon posted a cartoon titled 'Different Reactions' on social media. In the cartoon, Woo Young-woo appears on the left saying, "Eighty years ago, autism was considered a disease not worth living with." A citizen watching this replies, "People with disabilities should live together too."

On the other hand, in the picture on the right, a Jeonjangyeon activist is lying by the subway door protesting for 'mobility rights'. Then, the citizen who previously said "Let's live together with people with disabilities" to Woo Young-woo shouts, "You should just stay at home, why are you blocking the commute and making a fuss!" Judging from the content of the cartoon, Jeonjangyeon seems to be pointing out the discriminatory views citizens have towards people with disabilities.

Jeonjangyeon explained the cartoon by saying, "People empathize and understand the character Woo Young-woo and get angry at Kwon Min-woo, who is called a 'schemer'." They added, "Looking at the reactions of those watching the drama, it seems everyone dreams of a world where people with disabilities live together."

A scene where lawyer Woo Young-woo, who has autism spectrum disorder and is sensitive to contact and sounds from others, recalls her favorite whale on the subway. Photo by ENA Drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo'

Jeonjangyeon stated, "However, when the drama ends and reality returns, if a person with a disability conducts a 'subway riding promotion' protest during the commute, the hearts of those who watched the drama disappear." They continued, "Whether live broadcast or on-site, people pour criticism, ridicule, and insults on people with disabilities, and sometimes even make violent threats."

They then questioned, "Why are the reactions so different?" and asked, "Is the desire to live together with people with disabilities, to live without discrimination in mobility and labor in society, and to live together in the community rather than institutions, something that ends when the drama Woo Young-woo ends?"

Furthermore, they pointed out, "If that is the case, the empathy you felt watching Woo Young-woo was nothing more than pity and charity, and it means that in your hearts, people with disabilities still remain as unequal beings."

Jeonjangyeon appealed, "If the drama's message is that people with disabilities want to live without discrimination and exclusion, then reality must be the same. If you want change, you must go beyond the drama and join and empathize with people with disabilities who are creating change in reality."

When Woo Young-woo was asked to change lawyers because of her autism spectrum, she decided to resign altogether, saying she could not harm others. Photo by ENA Drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo Young-woo

Summarizing Jeonjangyeon's argument, the drama depicts an ideal situation, but returning to reality reveals a harsh reality of discrimination against people with disabilities, so they appeal for a warmer perspective towards people with disabilities. Citizens' reactions to this are mixed.

Kim, a company employee in his 40s, said, "I don't think there is discrimination between Woo Young-woo and Jeonjangyeon. The drama is just a drama," adding, "Everyone empathizes with the issue of discrimination against people with disabilities." Another office worker in his 40s, Park, said, "Jeonjangyeon's criticism seems excessive," and added, "Woo Young-woo does not harm others. In fact, in the drama, when she realizes her condition (autism) is not helpful and causes harm to a client, she resigns from the law firm."

The part citizen Park mentioned is from episode 3 of the drama. In the episode, a client who came to handle a case related to a son with 'autism spectrum' requests a lawyer change upon learning that attorney Woo Young-woo has autism, claiming she is ineffective in the defense. Woo Young-woo accepts that she cannot help the client and eventually submits her resignation letter to the law firm. Her superior, attorney Jung Myung-seok, after much consideration, quietly waits for Woo Young-woo's time by treating her absence as annual leave instead of accepting the resignation.

Some citizens who oppose Jeonjangyeon's claims by comparing to Woo Young-woo argue that while they empathize with the reality of discrimination faced by people with disabilities, the 'subway protest' that may harm others is inappropriate.

Disabled members of Jeonjangyeon held a protest while boarding the subway during the morning commute on May 3rd at Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Subway Line 3. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, activists from Jeonjangyeon who held the subway protest refused to cooperate with the investigation by saying "There is no elevator installed inside the police station" when they tried to voluntarily appear at the Jongno Police Station in Seoul. On the previous day (25th), Jeonjangyeon representative Park Kyung-seok and Lee Hyung-sook, chairperson of the Seoul Disabled Independent Living Center Council, who were booked by the police on charges including obstruction of business, appeared at Jongno Police Station in the morning. However, Park and Lee refused the investigation citing the absence of an elevator inside the station. Jeonjangyeon plans to hold a press conference in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the afternoon of the 2nd of next month to announce their stance on the police's combined investigation policy and the summons of activists.