Yoon Nam-no Moved by the Death of the “Peter Pan Dad”: “I Wish I Could Marinate Even Some Beef Short Ribs and Feed Them to His Son”

[Financial News] Chef Yoon Nam-no, who rose to fame through the Netflix variety show “Culinary Class Wars,” expressed his sorrow over the death of writer Jeon Gyeong-cheol, known as the “Peter Pan Dad.” Jeon died of liver cancer after raising his autistic son alone. “I wish I could marinate even some beef short ribs and feed them to his son,” Yoon said.
Writer Jeon Gyeong-cheol died on the 6th at the age of 63 after battling liver cancer. Earlier that day, Jung Yu-jin, head of the Developmental Disability Support Experts Forum, announced on her personal social media account that “Jeon Gyeong-cheol, the Peter Pan Dad, left on his long journey at 7:56 p.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2026.” She also said that, in accordance with the deceased’s wishes, the family had decided to hold a funeral without a viewing or funeral hall.
Jeon had raised his son, who had severe autism, alone for more than 20 years. After being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and given six months to live, he visited more than 1,000 facilities across the country in search of a place where his son could live after he was gone, as the boy’s mental age remained at that of a two- or three-year-old. His essay “Goodbye, Peter Pan,” which chronicled the process, drew widespread attention. After he was featured on MBC’s “True Story Expedition,” he also received 80 million won in donations.
Appearing on tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block,” Jeon moved viewers to tears when he told his son, “I hope you live happily. I want to tell you to completely forget the existence of your father and live only for your own happiness.”
“Honestly, it isn’t easy to wholeheartedly tell you to forget your father,” he said. “I hope you remember me as ‘a man who suddenly grew old, but was very warm and made lots of delicious food for you.’” He added, “I want to remain as someone you may not know exactly who he was, but whom you suddenly miss whenever you think of him. That is my wish for you.”
As his story became widely known through television appearances, Jeon’s son found a stable home where he could live. Before his death, Jeon had been working to establish the Peter Pan Foundation, donating royalties from his books and related proceeds to its founding fund. The foundation aims to create a community where people with severe developmental disabilities can receive round-the-clock care.

[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter