Gov't expands care safety net for people with developmental disabilities
Families in Korea caring for individuals with developmental disabilities — a category covering lifelong cognitive and neurological conditions like autism and intellectual disabilities — have long operated in a state of quiet crisis, bearing an immense physical, emotional and financial toll behind closed doors. In response, the government has signaled a major structural shift, unveiling a…
Families in South Korea who provide care for individuals with developmental disabilities – a category encompassing lifelong cognitive and neurological conditions such as autism and intellectual disabilities – have endured a prolonged struggle, silently enduring significant physical, emotional, and financial hardships. In an effort to alleviate this burden, the government announced a transformative plan on Thursday to officially transfer responsibility for this care from strained households to a comprehensive, state-sponsored system.
Coordinated by ministries under the leadership of Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eun-kyeong, the groundbreaking policy directly targets the systemic shortcomings that have consistently placed caregiver families under immense strain. With approximately 288,000 individuals with developmental disabilities residing in the country, accounting for 11 percent of the nation's total registered disabled population, the initiative establishes a lifecycle-based safety net aimed at relocating care from private homes to well-structured community settings.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
