Community Social Service and Public-Private Partnership

Abstract

This study presents considerations for the provision of social services in the form of public-private partnerships in each region of South Korea. After identifying which local governments provide social services in the form of public-private partnerships I investigated how the public and private sectors that provide these services perceive such partnerships. To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted on public servants and workers in private welfare centers in Gangdong-gu, Seoul; Nam-gu, Busan; Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do Province; and Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, focusing on the Community Associations of Social Welfare, Hope Welfare Supporters, Dong as a Hub of Welfare project, and Public-Private Partnership cases. The results of my analysis reveal that it is necessary to adopt a two-track approach by distinguishing between “finding” and “supporting” those in need of help in order to effectively provide social services. Furthermore, the task of providing social services to people with diverse needs cannot be done solely by the public or private sector; rather, cooperation between both is necessary. In particular, this study found that local public servants must perceive public-private partnerships more positively.