Promotion of Preliminary Feasibility Exemption for 24-Hour Care of Severely Disabled... Accelerating Expansion to 17 Local Governments

Approval of Preliminary Feasibility Study Exemption at the State Council Meeting
Related Budget for Next Year 71.7 Billion KRW
Local Governments Expanded from 1 to 17

The government is pushing for an exemption from the preliminary feasibility study (PFS) to establish a 24-hour care system for people with the most severe developmental disabilities. This decision is based on the judgment that swift government support is necessary, considering the limitations of the existing care system for those with the most severe developmental disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviors such as self-harm and harm to others.

According to related ministries on the 30th, the government resolved to exempt the PFS for the "establishment of a 24-hour one-on-one care system for people with the most severe developmental disabilities" at the Cabinet meeting presided over by the President on the 21st. The government has submitted the necessary related materials for parliamentary review, and if the PFS exemption passes, it is expected that the phased establishment of a one-on-one care system for the most severe developmental disabilities could begin as early as next year.

The core of the care system for the most severe developmental disabilities that the government is promoting is to expand the system capable of providing the most challenging 24-hour one-on-one care to all 17 local governments nationwide. Currently, among local governments, only the Gwangju Metropolitan City Disabled Welfare Center has been conducting a 24-hour one-on-one care pilot project since March 2021. The government plans to invest 71.7 billion KRW in next year’s budget to establish a 24-hour care system for the most severe disabled individuals in local governments nationwide.

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@

According to the government, there are currently 115,000 personnel supporting the daily living activities of disabled people. In contrast, only 6,000 personnel support high-difficulty activities for the most severe disabled individuals. In fact, the average daily care time by the primary caregiver for the most severe developmental disabilities (10.4 hours) is more than twice that of general developmental disabilities (4.1 hours), indicating an increased economic and time burden.

Given this situation, even at the Gwangju Disabled Welfare Center currently in operation, only 7 out of 10 people with the most severe disabilities receive the benefit of 24-hour one-on-one care. Although there is capacity, there is a shortage of specialized personnel to care for them. A welfare center official said, "Considering unpredictable behaviors such as self-harm and harm to others, male personnel with professional qualifications such as social workers and special education teachers are mainly needed, and including shift personnel for 24-hour one-on-one care, at least 2 to 3 specialized caregivers are required per disabled person."

The government plans to expand the current 20 personnel in one local government to a total of 340 personnel across 17 local governments. Additionally, it intends to newly hire 1,500 personnel for level 1 daytime group-type one-on-one care and 500 personnel for level 2 daytime individual one-on-one care. If the PFS exemption for the related project passes the National Assembly, the government plans to accept care project applications by local government. A government official said, "The specific plan is to expand the one-on-one care system for the most severe developmental disabilities to all 17 local governments without exception, and in the future, after receiving applications, the budget allocation per local government will be discussed."