[Welfare Advanced Nation 2030]⑥- Jeong Chunsuk, Chair of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, "We Must Live Well Together to Become an Advanced Nation... More Attention Needed for Developmental Disabilities"

"Early Response and Treatment Conditions Are Important"
"Focus on Supporting Independence for People with Disabilities... High Interest in Activating the Public Guardianship System"

Is South Korea a developed country? In the 'Welfare Developed Country 2030' initiative, which was prepared to explore the 'direction of developed countries' through National Assembly legislation, 'people with developmental disabilities' were addressed first. This is because the welfare system and support framework remain insufficient despite more than 20 tragic incidents involving families of people with developmental disabilities occurring in the past two years. Last March, on the day of an elementary school entrance ceremony, a mother in her 30s suffocated and killed her 8-year-old son with developmental disabilities, and in May, which included Children's Day, a mother in her 40s spent the last Children's Day of the year with her 6-year-old child with developmental disabilities before taking an extreme step. Despite promises in the National Assembly to prevent recurrence and improve the system following these successive family tragedies involving people with developmental disabilities, these promises gradually faded after two elections this year (the presidential election in March and the local elections in June).

[Asia Economy Reporters Joo-yeon Oh, Hyun-joo Lee] "Developmental disabilities should not be a matter for political strife between ruling and opposition parties."

Despite the desperate cries of parents of people with developmental disabilities, discussions on related bills in the National Assembly have come to a complete halt. They desperately appeal for legislation and social attention, but living in social indifference as if it is not their story, they remain marginalized.

For these socially vulnerable individuals, the existence of legislation is a minimal safeguard. Therefore, activities in the National Assembly hold significant meaning. Last year, at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), South Korea's status was changed from a developing country to a developed country group, but more in-depth consideration is needed as to whether the quality of life of its citizens is changing to match the stature of a developed country. Jeong Chun-sook, Chairperson of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, said in an interview with Asia Economy, "I am focusing on revitalizing the public guardianship system."

Jeong Chun-sook, Chairperson of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The following is a Q&A with Chairperson Jeong.

-In June, the National Assembly proposed the 'Resolution Urging Measures for the Developmental Disabilities Family Tragedy' and the 'Resolution to Establish a Special Committee for Measures on the Developmental Disabilities Family Tragedy.' What is the level of National Assembly interest in people with developmental disabilities?

=There is more interest than in the past. There are groups of lawmakers discussing improvements in the treatment of people with developmental disabilities, and individual lawmakers are actively proposing legislation. A public hearing on improving the weekly after-school service system for people with developmental disabilities was recently held, and through this, I believe support for people with developmental disabilities can be activated in local communities as well.

-Social interest has also increased through the drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo.'

=There is a scene where Woo Young-woo says that no matter how hard she tries, she cannot become the same kind of lawyer as the one sitting over there, which resonated deeply with me. This is not a problem that can be solved solely by legislation or changes in the system. Also, many laws and systems are detached from reality in the process of enforcement, so what people with developmental disabilities can actually feel may be quite different.

-Although the budget for people with developmental disabilities has increased, the actual execution rate was 29.5% this year. There are also criticisms that the burden of care is entirely borne by families, especially mothers.

=I have a relative with a disability. Parents of children with disabilities often have one person completely giving up their own life to provide care. In the case of developmental disabilities, support is needed not only in childhood but must continue into adulthood. Parents often say their dream is to live just one more day than their child with developmental disabilities because they worry, "What will happen to my child when I die?" I believe this is why successive family tragedies occur.

Of course, the government has announced a comprehensive lifelong care plan for people with developmental disabilities, and there have been changes in related laws. However, since the focus has been on physical disabilities, the mental disability aspect is still immature. The low budget execution rate means that although welfare systems exist, they are not being fully utilized, indicating that much is still lacking (in promotion, systematic support, etc.). Although the government operates a related website where people with developmental disabilities and their families can check available systems and services at a glance, promotion is insufficient, and searching and accessing the site is difficult, so it does not seem to provide meaningful help to people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Jeong Chun-sook, Chairperson of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

-Why should we pay more attention to developmental disabilities?

=As I mentioned earlier, when we think of disabilities, the focus has been on physical disabilities. Developmental disabilities may not be obvious at first glance. However, you need to pay attention and talk about it to understand. Women suffer greatly from sexual violence, and autism spectrum disorder involves difficulties in forming relationships due to isolation from the outside world, so many become isolated. They need full support from those around them. Also, because developmental disabilities cover a wide spectrum, they differ individually. In the past, we did not know much about developmental disabilities. People simply called them 'fools.' They did not consider it an intellectual disability that requires help. Research reports show that intellectual disabilities can improve with early treatment, training, and external stimuli, but South Korea has only recently become aware of this. Now, we need to pay more attention and focus on it.

When I visited the National Rehabilitation Center, support was focused on physical disabilities. Physical disabilities are immediately recognizable, but mental disabilities do not appear right away, so the support system must change. It is truly necessary for South Korea to respond early and provide treatment.

-Monthly treatment costs range from 3 to 4 million won and are not covered by insurance. There is also a shortage of special education teachers.

=It is necessary to strengthen childcare services from infancy through special education and lifelong care. Special education teachers must be secured for school-age children, and facilities must be expanded to allow for higher education, but currently, these are very insufficient. There is also a demand for training experts for developmental disability treatment. The government must intervene to enable early detection and intensive treatment, but because this is still lacking, individuals have to bear many expenses.

There are more people interested in special education (teachers) than expected, but the problem is that there are not many educational institutions to train them. Educating children with disabilities is difficult even on a one-on-one basis. More teachers need to be trained, and their working conditions must be improved. When I hear from those working in integrated classes, they say it is difficult for one teacher to care for two children with disabilities and that about five teachers are needed.

Jeong Chunsuk, Chairperson of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee. / Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

-Parents of people with developmental disabilities are urging the formation of a special committee within the National Assembly. They want the National Assembly to address developmental disability issues. Will this be discussed in the current regular session?

=The current political situation is tense, so it seems difficult. Sometimes I feel frustrated because the Yoon Seok-yeol administration does not seem to respect the National Assembly. However, the Health and Welfare Committee has always negotiated and cooperated well across parties, but this time it is quite difficult. Nevertheless, several lawmakers, including Choi Hye-young, Lee Jong-sung, and Kang Sun-woo, are very interested in disability welfare, and I plan to focus on and take care of matters that can be addressed intensively.

-What is your view on the pilot project for independent living support facilities for people with disabilities?

=From the perspective of someone who majored in social welfare, the issues of independent living support for people with disabilities and residential facilities are not matters of choosing one over the other. Both are necessary. When parents get older, it becomes difficult to care for their children, and facilities are needed at that time. Personally, I am focusing on revitalizing the public guardianship system. When people with disabilities leave facilities and become independent, it is also necessary to have support from those around them.

-What is your definition of a developed country?

=A society where everyone lives well together. Anyone should be able to freely move anywhere across the country if they want. There was a time when a local disability welfare center operated a travel program, and some participants said it was their first time going out since birth. That is extremely poor. A developed country is where rural and urban areas prosper together, where women and men live without conflict, and where people with and without disabilities live without discrimination.