뉴스노믹스 김지혜 기자 |

The 16th session of the monthly Cultural Talk For Diversity was held successfully this April, drawing attention to the often-overlooked topic of neurodiversity in Korea.

Featuring two powerful speakers, Eunsoo Lee and Sammie Walker Herrera, the event sparked meaningful discussions around ADHD, early diagnosis, and reframing neurodiverse traits as strengths.

Eunsoo Lee, a high school junior and founder of the youth advocacy group Spring Sunshine, captivated the audience with her passionate advocacy for teens with ADHD.

Sharing her personal journey and research findings, Eunsoo highlighted the significant lack of awareness and support systems in South Korea.

She spoke about her brother’s diagnosis and the family's experience navigating ADHD, which ultimately inspired her to launch her advocacy work.

Through Spring Sunshine, Eunsoo leads initiatives such as translating neurodiversity resources into Korean, hosting annual celebration weeks, and running online campaigns to destigmatize ADHD.

She stressed that education—targeted not only at students but also at parents, teachers, and peers—is the key to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for neurodiverse teens in Korea.

The conversation then shifted to Sammie Walker Herrera, a public speaking coach and executive leadership trainer, who brought an uplifting perspective on ADHD.

Sammie encouraged the audience to see ADHD through a strengths-based lens, introducing the concept of “unique brain wiring.”

She reframed common ADHD traits like distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity as potential superpowers when properly understood and leveraged.

Sammie emphasized the importance of character strengths, introducing the VIA Institute’s 24-character strengths framework.

She engaged participants in identifying their own strengths, demonstrating how humor, curiosity, and love of learning can become powerful tools for individuals with ADHD to thrive personally and professionally.

The event concluded with an inspiring Q&A session, where participants shared their own stories and concerns, from workplace accommodations to family challenges.

The atmosphere was warm, supportive, and filled with hope—proof that conversations like these are essential for building awareness and fostering inclusive communities.

“We need more spaces like this,” one attendee shared. “It’s refreshing to talk openly about neurodiversity and start seeing it not as a disorder, but as a different way of thinking that brings unique value.”

The Cultural Talk For Diversity series continues to foster cross-cultural understanding and open dialogue on critical DEI topics. The next session will dive into education and diversity—stay tuned!

If you need any further information, please contact Jane Jihye Kim at janekimh@naver.com