[Edaily Yeom Jung-inn Reporter Jeong Yu-jin, Intern Reporter] An eldest son with a disability was found dead several days after his death. This tragedy occurred because his mother and younger brother, who lived with him and were both people with intellectual disabilities, were unable to notice his death in time.

In households composed entirely of people with disabilities, there is a high likelihood of facing situations where it is difficult to cope with unexpected events. However, it has been confirmed that the support systems for these households are not adequately in place. Experts have pointed out the need to establish a separate management and support system for households composed entirely of people with disabilities.

660,000 Households Where “All Family Members Have Disabilities”—No Policies in Place for Them

According to police on the 17th, Mr. A, a man in his 20s with an intellectual disability, was found dead in a home in Jungnang-gu on the 6th of last month. Police responded to a call from his younger brother reporting that “my older brother isn’t moving” and discovered Mr. A’s body. At the time of discovery, several days had already passed since his death, and the body was in an advanced state of decomposition. Police determined that Mr. A had died two to three days before he was found and concluded that there were no signs of foul play. An autopsy conducted by the National Forensic Service determined the cause of death to be acute cardiac arrest.

This case is a clear example of how so-called “lonely deaths while living with others” can occur even when family members live together, if all members lack the awareness of the situation and the ability to respond effectively. According to the “2025 Population and Housing Census Results” from the National Data Agency, the number of households composed entirely of people with disabilities last year was 660,000, accounting for 29.2% of all households with disabled members. This means that the possibility of a tragedy like the one involving Mr. A’s family cannot be ruled out for these 660,000 households.

The problem is that there is no significant difference in welfare benefits between households with one person with a disability and those where all members have disabilities. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, current welfare services for people with disabilities are provided on an individual basis, depending on personal needs and the severity of the disability. While more attentive welfare benefits can be provided through “integrated case management” if the need for additional care is recognized, the criteria for such recognition do not specifically account for vulnerabilities related to household composition, such as “all members having disabilities.”

The situation on the ground is not much different. Based on statements from officials at various local governments and community centers, there were no criteria for providing special care simply because a household consists entirely of people with disabilities.

An official from a local government explained, “There are no guidelines requiring that a household be immediately designated as a ‘household at risk’ or assessed with heightened vulnerability simply because it consists of two or more people with disabilities or because they live exclusively with one another,” adding, “It is standard practice to comprehensively consider the severity of the disability and the care situation.”

“Signs of danger not apparent on paper must be identified on-site”

It was confirmed that the local government had not even clearly grasped the actual situation of Mr. A’s family. The local government had identified the household as a family of four, including one non-disabled person on paper. However, based on interviews conducted by Edaily with Mr. A’s family, neighbors, and others in the community, it emerged that his father—the only household member registered as non-disabled—had not been living with them until recently. This means the local government had failed to assess the true level of risk facing this family.

Although Mr. A had a record of securing employment with the help of the local government, he had not held a job where he regularly reported to work for the past three years. While families in such situations require a system that allows for ongoing external monitoring, the external channels through which crisis situations could be detected had effectively been severed.

Voices from the front lines also point out that there is a severe lack of resources to closely monitor these individuals. An official at a community center in Jongno-gu lamented, “Rather than our core duties, contacting at-risk households and rushing over at the drop of a hat has become our primary task,” adding, “With limited personnel, it’s not a viable solution to emphasize responding to at-risk households without realistic countermeasures.”

Experts suggest that a more meticulous approach is needed for households composed entirely of people with disabilities.

Jeong Won-seok, president of the Korea Green Foundation for People with Disabilities, pointed out, “The key is to gain a detailed understanding of each household’s specific circumstances,” adding, “We must not underestimate the risk simply because a person is capable of working or lives with others.” He further emphasized, “We must be able to detect even signs that aren’t evident in official documents.”

Cho Han-jin, a professor in the Department of Social Welfare at Daegu University, emphasized, “It is most important for local government officials to visit these households regularly to assess the situation.” He explained, “Households composed entirely of people with intellectual disabilities may appear not to require care workers because they have no difficulty moving around. However, they are more likely to be exposed to various risks, so their situation must be continuously monitored from the outside.”