Development and Characteristics of Social Work and Social Welfare in Korea

Abstract

The beginning of social work and its formation differ in each society due to its unique historical and social background inherent to a society, so the beginning of social work in Korea is also categorically influenced by historical events. How social work in Korea began and why the expression 'social work' is no longer used and has been replaced by 'social welfare' can be understood in the context of the social work development process in Korea, as the change of word usage can be viewed as a product of history that reflects its epoch and society. Up until around 1980, all the work in this field had been called 'social work', thereafter the terminology 'social welfare' was used, but there is no longer any differentiation between these two terms as the microscopic approach of social work on personal services and the macroscopic approach of social policy are jointly called 'social welfare'. This research is to consolidate the details and characteristics of social work and social welfare development in Korea. Consequently, this paper focused how social work in Korea started, what are the patterns of social welfare development, and what are the prospects and problems of social welfare in Korea. The task for Korean Social Welfare can be analyzed critically into five categories. Firstly, the nation's sympathy and approval must be sought for a particular welfare system. Secondly, it is necessary to increase the people's level of awareness of welfare issues. Thirdly, it is necessary for policy-makers to be aware of the problems in the Korean welfare system, and to have professional knowledge and accomplishments, and the power of decision-making on social welfare policy. Fourthly, an effort is needed to increase the level of expenditure on welfare. As welfare finance primarily derives from the nation's taxes, it is important to carry out taxation through a fair system as acknowledged by the people. Fifthly, it is necessary to develop a Korean social welfare model. Korean welfare model development needs to solve the problem of the right to survival of the socially deprived class and the socially weak, and social welfare policy and social services must be developed as a priority so as to guarantee their minimum livelihood expenditure to improve their quality of life. A welfare policy that includes the minority in social solidarity, and an intelligent, mature welfare policy which fosters integration, equality and unity, and allows for the continuous development of social welfare policy, must be the primary focus. In future, social welfare must be a pivotal policy of the government to enable it to recover its legitimacy and trust, and in implementing this there will be a greater sense of national unity and duty. Accordingly, I expect the Korean welfare model to be a driving force in the development of a multi-cultural society and in resolving the North-South division and confrontation and regional conflicts and divisions through regional solidarity.