MBC's 'Real Story Investigation' airs single father Jeon Kyung-chul and his autistic son

In March 2026, the South Korean broadcaster MBC aired a report on its programme "Silhwa Tamsa-dae" (Real Story Investigation) about Jeon Kyung-chul, a writer who had raised his son, Jeon-won, alone for more than twenty years. The son has severe autism. After a divorce, Jeon became his full-time carer, and he called his son "Peter Pan" because the young man would never grow up in the usual sense.

The report showed the daily reality of caring for an adult with severe autism with little outside support. It also dealt with Jeon's deepest worry: what would happen to his son when he was no longer able to look after him. Jeon was seriously ill and was searching for a residential facility where his son could live safely.

MBC followed up with a second report in July 2026. The broadcasts drew public attention to the lack of long-term care for adults with developmental disabilities in South Korea, and to the burden placed on ageing parents. They also became the starting point for the later coverage of Jeon's final months, his plans for a welfare foundation for autistic people and families, and a documentary made by the programme's producer.