Worrying About Son Until the Very End... 'Peter Pan Dad' Passes Away

Jeon Gyeong-cheol, known as the "Peter Pan Dad" after raising his severely autistic son for 27 years, passed away on the 5th at the age of 64.

The deceased had single-handedly cared for his severely autistic son, whose mental age is that of a 2- or 3-year-old, for 27 years.

After being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in April of last year, he spent over a year visiting residential facilities and welfare organizations for people with disabilities across the country to find a place for his son to live after he was gone.

Having published this journey in a book, the deceased also caused a social stir after being featured on an entertainment program.

The reality in which parents, like the deceased, have to worry about caring for their children until the very last moment of their lives is the shared plight facing the vast majority of families with severe developmental disabilities.

In particular, for adults with severe autism, it is reported that they are often denied access even to existing welfare facilities due to the severity of their disabilities.

Online, voices are continuing to call for improvements to the developmental disability care system, arguing that a society where parents must worry about their children until the moment they close their eyes is wrong.

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※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.