President Lee Vows to Fulfill 'Peter Pan Dad's Wish...Expanded Care for Developmental Disabilities

"Not Left Alone Even Without Parents"

Strengthening 24-Hour Integrated Care and Daytime Activity Support

President Lee Jae-myung paid tribute to Jeon Gyeongcheol, the late writer known as the "Peter Pan Dad," who recently passed away after raising his adult son with severe autism alone. President Lee stated, "Even when parents are not by their child's side, their children should not be left alone and should be able to enjoy ordinary life." This statement came as the government announced the "National Responsibility System for the Care of People with Developmental Disabilities" on the same day, expressing a firm commitment that the burden of care, which had previously fallen mainly on families, will now be shared by the nation and local communities.

President Lee Jae-myung is talking with Lee Hyung-il, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance and Economy and candidate for Deputy Prime Minister, at the Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House on September 1, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

On September 10, President Lee posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) entitled "The Wish Left Behind by 'Peter Pan Dad' Jeon Gyeongcheol, Now Among the Stars." He wrote, "The tears of a father who worried only about his son's future until his very last moment touched the hearts of us all."

He continued, "The concern of 'How will my son live after I am gone? Who will be there for him?' up to the very last moment is shared by many parents of children with disabilities. Even when parents are not around, their children should not be left alone and should be able to enjoy ordinary lives," he emphasized.

Jeon, the late author, had taken care of his adult son, Jewon, who has severe autism, by himself for over 20 years. After being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer last year, his story—knocking on the doors of facilities across the country in search of a place for his son to live after his death—became widely known, earning him the nickname "Peter Pan Dad." He documented his experiences searching for care facilities in the essay "Goodbye, Peter Pan" and also worked to establish a welfare foundation for adults with severe autism. Jeon passed away on September 5.

Referring to the "National Responsibility System for the Care of People with Developmental Disabilities" announced by the government that day, President Lee stated, "We will expand integrated 24-hour care for people with the most severe developmental disabilities, increase participation in daytime activities for individuals with developmental disabilities, and strengthen support, including the public guardianship system."

The government measures include three main strategies—strengthening personalized care at each stage of life, expanding community independence and social participation, and building a support system centered around local communities. These are further broken down into 11 priority tasks and 50 specific action plans. The number of people eligible for integrated care for the most severe developmental disabilities will increase from 2,340 this year to 2,760 next year. In addition, 24-hour individualized one-on-one support for the most severe cases requiring nighttime care will be expanded. The current 24-hour support services, which are mainly available on weekdays, will be extended to weekends as well.

The number of adult individuals with developmental disabilities eligible for daytime activity services will also be gradually expanded, from 15,000 this year to 20,000 next year, and to 30,000 by 2030. Housing, job, and activity support services will be linked so that individuals can live in their communities even without guardians. Public guardianship and financial management support will also be strengthened. As of the end of last year, there were about 288,000 people with developmental disabilities in Korea, accounting for 11% of all people with disabilities.

President Lee stated, "Step by step, but I will not stop," adding, "I will not forget the tomorrow of the son that the late Jeon Gyeongcheol worried about until his last moment. May the late Jeon Gyeongcheol rest in peace."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.