Families in Korea caring for individuals with developmental disabilities — a category covering lifelong cognitive and neurological conditions like autism and intellectual disabilities — have long operated in a state of quiet crisis, bearing an immense physical, emotional and financial toll behind closed doors. In response, the government has signaled a major structural shift, unveiling a comprehensive plan Thursday to officially transition this care from an isolating household burden into a fully state-backed responsibility. The landmark policy, announced jointly by interagency ministries led by Minister of Health and Welfare Jung Eun-kyeong, directly addresses the institutional gaps that have repeatedly pushed caregiver families to their limits. With roughly 288,000 individuals with developmental disabilities nationwide — representing 11 percent of Korea’s total registered disabled population — the national initiative establishes a lifecycle-based safety net designed to move care out of private homes and directly into structured community frameworks. The announcement carries p