Jeon Gyeong-cheol, advocate for autism welfare, passes away

Jeon Gyeong-cheol, known as ‘Peter Pan Dad’ for his lifelong devotion to his son Je-won, a man with severe autism, has passed away at the age of 64 following a battle with terminal liver cancer.

Jeon spent his final months searching for a safe living environment for his son after being rejected by approximately 1,000 facilities. Following media coverage, Je-won was eventually able to secure a place in a developmental disability independence facility in Chungbuk.

Before his death, Jeon worked to establish the ‘Peter Pan Autism Welfare Foundation’ to create ‘Neverland,’ a dedicated community for adults with severe developmental disabilities to live with dignity. Through public donations and book royalties, approximately 447.6 million KRW has been raised toward his goal. His passing has prompted calls from disability advocacy groups for the government to implement more robust public support systems so that the burden of care does not fall solely on individual families.