[Welfare Advanced Nation 2030]② 25-Year-Old Young Adult with Developmental Disability "Monthly Pension of 300,000 Won Is My Entire Income"

Basic Disability Pension 307,500 Won
Insufficient for Living Expenses... Reality of Lifelong Dependence on Family
Government and National Assembly Must Strive to Establish Welfare System for People with Mental Disabilities

Editor's NoteLast August in Daegu, a woman in her 30s caused the death of her 2-year-old child with developmental disabilities and then took her own life. Similar incidents have occurred in Seongdong-gu and Incheon, with over 20 tragic cases happening in the past two years. It has been a year since the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) under the UN changed South Korea's status from a developing country to an advanced country group, but more in-depth consideration is needed on whether the quality of life of the people is changing to match the status of an advanced country. In particular, we will examine whether there are blind spots for socially vulnerable groups who need legal protection and whether new laws are required, and explore 'legislation for humanity' that the National Assembly can undertake, and through this, the 'direction toward becoming an advanced country.' The first part looks at the reality and improvements concerning people with developmental disabilities (intellectual and autism spectrum disorders) and legislation currently under discussion in the National Assembly.

'307,500 won + 20,000 won'

This is the monthly disability pension that Lee (25), a disabled person living with her parents in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, receives from the government once a month. It is the combined amount of the basic disability benefit and additional benefit that can be received upon reaching adulthood. Lee is a person with severe disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, and will receive the disability pension until she turns 65. Although in her early 20s, it is difficult to expect to attend university or find employment like non-disabled people. Currently, Lee attends a lifelong education center for people with developmental disabilities. Most of the 300,000 won disability pension is used for the center fees. The center's monthly usage fee is 200,000 won, and lunch costs 90,000 won. After paying these fixed monthly expenses, there is almost no pension left.

[Welfare Advanced Nation 2030]② 25-Year-Old Young Adult with Developmental Disability "Monthly Pension of 300,000 Won Is My Entire Income"

Officials from the National Parents' Association for the Disabled held a rally on the 30th at the north side of Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging the guarantee of rights for people with developmental disabilities and their families, as well as the introduction of a national responsibility system for developmental disabilities. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

After the center's operating hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lee's mother, Kang (51), mainly takes care of her, but they also partially use daytime activity assistance services. Since Kang's husband works, there is a self-pay cost of about 150,000 won when using the activity assistance service.

Recently, Kang has been looking into whether there are openings at daytime care centers where she can entrust her son. This is because the lifelong education center for people with developmental disabilities that Lee currently attends can only be attended for up to five years. This year is Lee's last year at the center. Kang gave a bitter smile, saying, "It would be good if my child could have a job, but it seems like the environment won't accept him." She added, "There are not many daytime care centers in the district, so I have to look into other areas, but there is no guarantee of available spots."

"There are even announcements about missing persons among people with developmental disabilities every two to three days."

A 24-hour care system is urgently needed, but support systems still cannot keep up with reality. Kang said, "Only a few people with developmental disabilities can move around on their own," and "They receive about 100 to 120 hours of activity support assistance per month, but this is far from enough for parents who have to work on weekends as well."

She said the world seems to be getting better, but the pace is too slow and many issues keep repeating. Kang said, "One of the biggest difficulties in raising a child with disabilities is being rejected," and "I feel helpless when I am rejected in the world I live in just because my child has a disability."

The fact that all burdens must be borne by the family makes families of people with developmental disabilities even more exhausted. Even if the disability is severe, if they are not recipients of basic living security, government support is only about 300,000 won per month. Kang calmly said, "When the pressure becomes too much to bear, you think about ending it quickly," and "When mothers say such things, people just cry with them." Kang herself has had difficult moments but has become much stronger after more than 20 years.

Still, it pains her when her two non-disabled daughters say they will not marry because they want to take care of Lee. Kang said, "I try not to let my children suffer, but they say, 'When you get old and your income stops, are you going to just live off the house?'" She added, "Since Lee cannot become a recipient of benefits, the family must continue to bear the responsibility for livelihood."

Current disability assessment is based on physical criteria... Welfare system needed for mental disabilities

Kang emphasized the need to establish welfare systems for people with mental disabilities such as developmental disabilities. "If you look at the disability assessment chart, it is judged mainly based on physical abilities, focusing on physical disabilities, so I think this needs to be supplemented," she said, pointing out, "Mental abilities and brain problems often make limbs useless, but this is not well reflected." She said, "If the goal is integrated welfare for people with disabilities, they should not be required to qualify as disabled," and "The mindset that services can only be provided if the person qualifies as disabled only creates a system that separates disabled people from each other and from non-disabled people."

"I was heartbroken watching the documentary 'School Road,' where parents asking for special schools were told by residents, 'Don't make a fuss with your disabled kids.' The fact that people think property values will drop if a school is built, and their true feelings of disliking disabled people were captured so clearly was very shocking."

There are still neighbors who immediately get off the elevator when Lee and her son ride it together. Kang said, "Watching the people in the drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo,' I think, 'I could get along with those people,' but most are not like that and think they should avoid them," but added, "I understand their feelings too because it is unfamiliar." She continued, "This problem must be solved through contact, so no matter what disability someone has, they should be able to live outside with neighbors."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kang said she has individually searched for support services by age group while raising a child with disabilities for 25 years. She emphasized that in the future, the government should proactively inform people about the application process and help them receive support. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's services still have high barriers and are full of difficult terminology. This is an area where the government and National Assembly need to pay more attention.

She said, "In foreign countries, once a disability is diagnosed, a support team centered on the child, including doctors and teachers, is formed," and "In Korea, families have to do everything, so a 'coordinator' who takes charge and has authority to fill in welfare support gaps is needed." She added, "Only then can welfare blind spots be prevented and necessary support be received."