Death of 'Peter Pan dad' spurs state plan to bolster care for people with developmental disabilities

The government will strengthen state support across all life stages, from infancy through adulthood, to reduce care gaps for people with developmental disabilities. It will raise the annual hours of parenting support for families of children with disabilities from 1,200 to 1,320 hours. It will also expand the number of adults with developmental disabilities eligible for daytime activity services to 30,000 by 2030. Round-the-clock, one-on-one support for those with the most severe developmental disabilities will also be extended to weekends.

Author Jeon Kyung-chul, known as the "Peter Pan dad," who raised his son with severe autism alone for 20 years, died recently. His death has drawn growing attention to the burden of care shouldered by parents of people with developmental disabilities and the care gap that emerges after parents die. The plan comes amid this growing concern.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare, together with related ministries, announced the plan — called the "measures to strengthen state responsibility for the care of people with developmental disabilities" — Thursday.

The plan aims to ensure that people with developmental disabilities receive support, from care to independence, at every stage of life. It also aims to help them and their families lead ordinary lives within their communities.

As of the end of 2025, South Korea had about 288,000 people with developmental disabilities, accounting for 11 percent of all people with disabilities. Many require continuous support in daily life due to difficulties with cognition and communication.

First, tailored care will be strengthened according to life stage. The government will raise the annual hours of parenting support for families of children with disabilities by 10 percent, from 1,200 hours in 2026 to 1,320 hours in 2027. The number of specialized and integrated daycare centers for children with disabilities will also increase, from 2,008 to 2,088, over the same period.

To help adults with developmental disabilities spend their daytime hours meaningfully by taking part in community activities, the number of people eligible for daytime activity services will expand in stages. It will expand from 15,000 in 2026 to 20,000 in 2027 and 30,000 by 2030.

In preparation for aging parents, the government will also expand opportunities for independence and social participation in daily life. It plans to link housing, jobs and activity support tailored to the individual characteristics of people with disabilities who wish to live independently. It will gradually expand community-based independent living support projects so that all metropolitan governments take part by 2027 and all local governments by 2030.

The government will also expand round-the-clock, one-on-one support for people with the most severe developmental disabilities who are difficult to care for at home. Currently offered only on weekdays, the 24-hour individual support for this group will be extended to weekends to address gaps in care caused by parents' absence or nighttime needs.

Support for economic independence and post-parental care will also expand. The government will develop customized jobs that take into account the type and severity of disability, and increase public jobs to expand employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. To prepare for situations in which parents can no longer provide support, it will also strengthen the public guardianship system and asset management support services.

The government plans to newly establish regional support centers for children with disabilities in 16 cities and provinces. These centers will help detect disabilities early and connect families with local welfare and education resources. Starting next year, it will introduce a new allowance for caregivers of infants and toddlers with disabilities — an additional 2,000 won ($1.40) for infants and 1,000 won for toddlers. It will also consider raising specialized allowances for care workers.

Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eun-kyeong said, "People with developmental disabilities also need the ordinary daily life that we take for granted." She added, "We will strengthen the support system for people with developmental disabilities so that the state and local communities can share the burden of care that families have carried until now."