"Stop Tragedies Involving People with Developmental Disabilities" ... Gyeongnam Parents' Solidarity for the Disabled Urges Policies to Prevent Deaths

"We must put an end to the tragedy of people with developmental disabilities and their families giving up on life."

The Gyeongnam Association of Parents of Persons with Disabilities held a press conference in front of the main gate of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office on the 21st and made this statement.

This press conference was held simultaneously in 17 metropolitan municipalities across the country, organized by the National Association of Parents of Persons with Disabilities, with about 60 people attending in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.

The Gyeongnam Parents of Disabled Persons Association is urging the establishment of policies to prevent deaths in preparation for disasters involving families of people with developmental disabilities in front of the main gate of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.
Photo by Lee Seryung

They expressed their sorrow over the incident in Cheongju on the 7th, where a family with developmental disabilities was found dead.

They said, "The family members who passed away in Cheongju all had intellectual disabilities," and added, "After the head of the family died in 2009, they lived an even poorer and harder life, and as the family's health deteriorated this year, they became more pessimistic about their situation and showed signs of despair."

"This is not simply a tragedy of an individual family, but a social disaster that occurred due to the complete lack of policies supporting people with developmental disabilities," they argued. "Although social intervention was needed more than ever, they did not seek help and fell into a welfare blind spot."

They also emphasized, "No more families with developmental disabilities should lose hope and turn away from the world," and stressed, "Meticulous support and care, as well as stronger social support and intervention, are needed."

They called for intensive support and management for families in crisis, as well as a constant cooperative system between local governments and family support centers for people with disabilities.

The Association of Parents of Persons with Disabilities delivered a list of demands to the Gyeongnam Provincial Welfare Division for Persons with Disabilities, including: ▲a comprehensive administrative survey of socially isolated people with developmental disabilities by local governments ▲the introduction of residential service programs ▲the establishment of family support systems ▲the creation of policies to prevent deaths.

Members of a disabled persons' organization are paying tribute by offering flowers at the memorial incense altar set up in front of the Gyeongsangnam-do Veterans Hall for the Cheongju family with developmental disabilities. Photo by Lee Seryung

According to the association, there have been a total of 24 reported deaths of people with developmental disabilities and their families in the media over the past three years: 10 cases in 2022, 11 cases in 2023, and 3 cases in 2024.

Of these, three incidents occurred in Gyeongnam. In May 2022, a mother with a child with developmental disabilities in Miryang took her own life, and in May the following year in Changwon, a mother with two children with developmental disabilities made an extreme choice.

In January this year, in Gimhae, a mother diagnosed with leukemia caused the death of her son with developmental disabilities, whom she had cared for over 20 years.

Yoon Jongsul, president of the Gyeongnam Association of Parents of Persons with Disabilities, said, "A proper national protection system must be established so that families of people with developmental disabilities can live peaceful and free lives," and added, "We will fight to the end to achieve this."

On this day, the association set up a memorial altar for the Cheongju family with developmental disabilities in front of the Gyeongsangnam-do Veterans Hall across from the provincial government office. The altar will be open until June 25, the 49th day after the family's passing.