Fantasies of progress on K-TV with Jenny Wang Medina
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Hello from Seoul (both real and fictional)!
This week, we welcome our friend and K-drama expert Jenny Wang Medina back to the pod to discuss the new Netflix hit \\u201cExtraordinary Attorney Woo.\\u201d\\xa0
The legal-procedural K-drama follows an autistic attorney, Woo Young-woo, who joins the ranks of a high-powered law firm and quickly proves herself invaluable. It\\u2019s wholesome, marginally sea-themed, and set in a fantasy playground of the professional sphere.\\xa0
We discuss the hot-button issues in Korea that form the backdrop of the show, like children\\u2019s rights, Buddhism versus Christianity, North Korean defectors, and eminent domain, just to name a few. We reflect on the rise of multiculturalism and minority rights in Korean society, TV, and film, which has led to the increased visibility of people with disabilities. Woo has also sparked a specific discourse around the portrayal of its autistic protagonist. Will the show also inspire a generation of women lawyers to move to Korea, expecting a feminist haven, or convince Korean parents to ease up on their kids\\u2019 time at hagwons? Only time will tell.\\xa0
If you plan to watch the series, we should warn you that Jay drops a couple of pretty extreme spoilers towards the end of the ep!
Later this week, we\\u2019ll be releasing a bonus recording of our book club with Lisa Hsiao Chen, author of \\u201cActivities of Daily Living,\\u201d for paid subscribers. We\\u2019ve also been using our TTSG Discord to plan subscriber meet-ups with Tammy in Seoul. If you\\u2019d like to join in, subscribe via Patreon or Substack. And you can always email us at timetosaygoodbyepod@gmail.com and follow us on Twitter!
This is a public episode. If you\\u2019d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodbye.substack.com/subscribe'