Explicit stigma and implicit biases toward autism in South Korea versus the United States.

Kim et al. (2023) asked adults in South Korea and the United States about autism. They used quick computer tests to measure hidden bias and paper surveys for open stigma. The goal was to see which culture holds stronger negative views.

Korean adults showed more negative explicit and implicit bias than American adults. Cultural values and prior contact with autistic people shaped these attitudes. The pattern held across age, gender, and education levels.

Prigge et al. (2013) already showed Korean families face stigma and late diagnosis. Yoon’s 2023 numbers give the first direct, cross-cultural proof that bias is stronger in Korea.

Armstrong et al. (2021) found South-East Asian parents in Australia felt better and saw fewer child problems than Australian parents. This seems opposite to Yoon’s finding, but the two studies looked at different groups: Jodie studied parents already in intervention, while Yoon surveyed the general public. Access to services may buffer stress once families are enrolled.

Farley et al. (2022) warned that Western autism tools miss culturally normal behaviors. Yoon’s results back that warning—collectivist values partly explain the higher stigma scores.

If you work with Korean families, expect stronger hidden bias from teachers, relatives, and even yourself. Add explicit cultural-competence lessons to your parent training and staff meetings. Ask families what autism means in their culture and validate those views before teaching new skills. Small shifts—like using Korean-culture examples in social stories—can cut shame and boost engagement.