South Korea's 'Autism Private Education' Reality - A Country Where Treatment Became Private Tutoring

Autism spectrum disorder, characterized by restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and difficulties in social interaction, affects 1 in 31 children aged 8 in the United States. Domestically, the registered population of individuals with autistic disorders aged 19 or younger has increased nearly threefold over 15 years. As the perception spreads that early detection and intervention for autism spectrum disorder can alter a child's developmental trajectory, a growing number of parents are pouring efforts into rehabilitation treatment at younger ages. The problem is that in South Korea, where national systems to support early intervention are lacking, parents are forced into isolated battles. Although regional hubs for developmental disabilities and behavioral development promotion centers have been established, it is common to wait years to receive consultations and treatments. Ultimately, demand that cannot be accommodated by public systems pours into private education centers, driving parents into a reality where they cycle through private therapy rooms—akin to hopping from one after-school academy to another after classes end. 7-year-old Jun-seo (pseudonym) was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The couple's schedule begins in earnest at 3 p.m., right after Jun-seo finishes kindergarten. For rehabilitation training, they basic-default to two or three places a day, including swimming and applied behavior analysis (ABA). Facing such an overwhelming schedule as a dual-income couple, the father temporarily quit his job to take care of the child. The problem is the cost of treatment. The couple stated that they spend up to 4 million won a month on treatment costs. The monthly treatment cost for a full-day program at a center known to have the highest fees among domestic behavioral treatment facilities even reached 11 million won. In fact, when the production team surveyed 517 parents raising children with developmental disabilities, including autism, approximately 60% of respondents spent 1 million won or more per month on treatment costs, and a significant number of households spent over 3 million won. However, the costs covered by government support averaged only 100,000 to 200,000 won per month. Unlike in South Korea, where people directly search for and wander between treatment rooms, the state and local communities in the United States and Japan were taking action first. The production team visited the United States and Japan directly to observe the daily lives of families raising autistic children. In the U.S., families were connected to necessary support after an autism diagnosis, and were able to receive various rehabilitation treatments such as behavioral therapy and speech therapy through insurance and public assistance. In Japan as well, multiple experts monitor a child's development starting from the infant health checkup stage, and connect families in need with local related organizations. Treatment costs were also centered around public support, preventing situations where treatment could not be received due to a household's economic circumstances. In both countries, unlike South Korea where individuals must fend for themselves after a diagnosis, the state and local communities jointly support the child's treatment and the family's daily life.

This week, SBS "News Story" examines the domestic reality of the "treatment war" that parents face following an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, and comparatively highlights the advanced support systems of the United States and Japan, where the state and local communities take full charge of treatment and care.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.