Title: 이상한 변호사 우영우 | Yisanghan Byeonhosa Uyeongu | Strange Lawyer Woo Young Woo Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Genre: Romance | Drama
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: ENA | Netflix
Broadcast Period: June 29 to August 18, 2022

Synopsis:

Woo Young Woo is a beautiful 27 year old woman born with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD yet has genius level when it comes to certain things such as law. She graduated summa cum laude inspite of her condition and became a rookie lawyer at Hanbada Law Firm. Though she struggles with basic social skills and emotional awareness, the people around her ends up respecting and liking her. This is her story as she navigates through life and love with her disability.

Characters:

• Park Eun Bin as Woo Young Woo
• Kang Tae Oh as Lee Joon Ho
• Kang Ki Young as Jung Myung Suk
• Oh Ji Yool as Younger Young Woo
• Jun Bae Soo as Woo Kwang Ho
• Baek Ji Won as Han Sun Young
• Ha Yoon Kyung as Choi Soo Yun
• Joo Jong Hyuk as Kwon Min Woo
• Jin Kyung as Tae Soo Mi
• Joo Hyun Young as Dong Geu Ra Mi
• Im Sung Jae as Kim Min Shik
• Choi Dae Hoon as Jang Seung Joon on Episode 3 & 6
• Lee Do Kyung as Park Kyu Shik
• Kang Ae Shim as Choi Young Ran
• Kim Hak Sun as Judge
• Park Jung Bok as Prosecutor Choi Hyun Uk
• Min Koo Kyung as Dr. Jung Kwang Hyun
• Yoon Joo Sang as Kim Jung Koo
• Ha Young as Kim Hwa Young
• Park Ji Hoon as Hong Jin Wook
• Park Yoo Rim as Kang Ji Hye
• Lee Dong Chan as Hong Joo Myung
• Park Sang Jong as Hong Jin Wook’s Uncle
• Lee Ji Hae as Kim Soo Ae
• Yoo Byung Hoon as Defense Attorney
• Kim Seung Tae as Judge
• Nam Jung Woo as Kim Jung Koo’s Secretary
• Ma Jung Pil as Dr. Oh Jin Sung
• Jo Young Mi as Kim Hwa Young’s Maid
• Sung Ki Yoon as Kim Jin Pyung
• Yoon Yoo Sun as Jung Kyung Hee
• Moon Sang Hoon as Kim Jung Hoon
• Lee Bong Joon as Kim Sang Hoon
• Park Soo Min as Judge Park Eun Jung
• Baek Sung Chul as Prosecutor Kim Min Soo
• Ha Dong Joon as Psychiatrist
• Hong Roo Hyun as Medical Examiner
• Kang Ji Hoon as TV News Anchor
• Lee Byung Chul as Taxi Driver
• Jung Suk Yong as Dong Dong Sam
• Yoon Jin Sung as Dong Sam’s Wife | Geu Ra Mi’s Mother
• Go In Bum as Dong Dong Il
• Lee Sang Hee as Dong Dong Yi
• Lee Seo Hwan as Jin Hyuk
• Lee Jung In as Judge
• Kim Kyung Min as Dong Il’s Lawyer
• Lee Sung Wook as Hwang Doo Yong
• Yoon Byung Hee as Bae Sung Chul
• Shin Hyun Jong as Oh Jin Jong
• Kim Do Hyun as Kim Woo Sung
• Jung Hyung Suk as Judge
• Lee Ki Young as Judge Ryu Myung Ha
• Kim Hi Eo Ra as Kye Hyang Shim
• Im Ha Bi as Kye Ha Yoon
• Im Sung Mi as Lee Soon Young
• Lee Rang Seo as Kim Jung Hee
• Nam Jin Bok as Prosecutor
• Son Sang Kyu as Attorney Kwon Joo Ho
• Seo Young Sam as Dr. Kwon Byung Kil
• Lee Young Shil as Landlady
• Ahn Soo Bin as Orphanage Staff
• Choi Hyun Joon as Courthouse Security Desk

My Review:

This is the very first Kdrama that I watched after 25 years of being a kdrama addict that became very close to my heart because it has successfully embodied and portrayed the emotional, psychological, social and physical challenges of person with disability in a realistic yet lighter approach without condescension or making a mockery out of the disability to make situations funny. It was excellently done with heartfelt messages of what handicap people do go through with much understanding and sensitivity. I initially didn’t want to watch it because I thought it will be a cringe comedic portrayal of mentally challenged person yet glad I was totally wrong. As a PWD myself, this is one of the best productions I’ve seen about people with special situations.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

(1) Park Eun Bin whom I’ve seen in several Kdramas never left a mark on me as an actress until now. I am in awe of how well she portrayed an autistic person and its nuances. I read that she even initially declined the role for fear that she may botch the role and inadvertently insult people with autism, yet, the director felt she’s the right person to do it, so, the production waited for her until she accepted. I am so glad the production waited for her to finally accept the role because she totally nailed it. I cannot help but fell in love with her and the consistency for which she did Woo Young Woo’s character. She did it so well, that she was able to convey to the audience that people with disability are also regular people like everyone else. We don’t ask for special treatment or pity just consideration and respect for our difference that neither our fault nor asked for.

(2) Kang Tae Oh is also a scintillating surprise in his role as Lee Joon Ho. I also did watch him in many of his supporting roles in other Kdramas he was featured in, but, I think this is his breakout role. His demeanor and looks truly fit the role of a kindhearted man to begin with and a man who truly loves his woman. He has done very well in portraying the challenges of a man who fell in love with a PWD. His chemistry with Park Eun Bin is so palpable that I can’t help but swoon over them when they finally kiss.

(3) The cast is so wonderful and have done a superb job in portraying their roles. Each characters in the world of Woo Young Woo do exists in the world of any PWD. I can personally attests to that as I have met every character on this KDrama in my own world.

(a) Jeon Bae-Su as Woo Gwang-Ho represent parents who will love their child no matter what and even with their own struggles, worries and difficulties, they will always love you. This character is like my parents who have provided me every love and opportunities to make sure I can survive in this world despite of my handicap.

(b) Jin Kyung as Tae Su-Mi represents other parents who may consider their child with special circumstances a hindrance or cumbersome to their lives. I have seen this with many unfortunate PWD abandoned by their parents because they consider their PWD child a burden when I used to assists PWDs who are in need of support.

(c) Kang Ki-Young as Jung Myeong-Seok represents people who maybe bias at first, but, who will in the end respect a PWD not out of sympathy, but, who the person is in the end. PWDs will be truly lucky if one will find a supportive boss like this character in a workplace environment.

(d) Baek Ji-Won as CEO of Hanbada Law Firm represents people who will hire PWD for ulterior motives. They appear to be supportive, but, the intent is different.

(e) Joo Jong-Hyuk as Kwon Min-Woo represents many people around PWD. These are people who will tolerate PWD and even accommodate them because they feel the PWD is not a threat and below them yet they will underhand a PWD if they feel they are becoming greater than they are. They will go with any means to bring a PWD down to show a PWD should stay in his/her place. I have encountered many people like this character and because PWD tends to please in order to be accepted, we generally gets manipulated by this type of people.

(f) Ha Yoon-Kyung as Choi Su-Yeon represents people who are generally sympathetic with PWD without making them feel less than who they are. They are fair and treat PWD people well.

(4) How the story was written and every case tackled were superbly written. It is the first time of all the courtroom Kdramas I’ve seen that I think closely depicts the legal procedures of SK especially during testimony of witnesses and presentation of evidence. I also love each legal cases presented. Everything was written so well with dialogues that can either make you laugh or cry.

(5) The thoughtful yet not dragging development of love between the characters was done at a good pace. Also, the delivery and the situations encountered in the romantic relationship between Woo Young Woo and Lee Joon Ho are so true and exceptionally done. Like for example, the situation while Woo Young Woo and Lee Joon Ho is on a date and accidentally met Lee Joon Ho’s friends. This is so familiar and resonates with me because the partner of a PWD will always encounter the challenge of how to introduce you with his friends or family. There’s always this fear of what others may think or react or what his/her PWD partner will feel with that reaction. Sometimes a partner of a PWD may even hide this relationship because even if they maybe in love, they cannot handle the social discrimination. Another situation raised on this Kdrama that is also so true is the physical intimacy issue with a PWD partner. Their first kiss was delivered with humor yet with sensitivity. I immensely salute the writer, the director and the actors for such successful delivery of this scene.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama? There’s nothing I don’t like about this KDrama. I believe it is one of the rare Kdramas that’s perfectly done from start to finish.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? Highly Recommended. 110% Resounding Yes.

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars

OST:

01. Beyond My Dreams – Sun Woo Jung Ah
02. Better Than Birthday – O3ohn
03. Tuning In To You – Wonstein
04. Inevitable – Bae Suzy
05. The Blue Night of Jeju Island – Park Eun Bin