Social work education in South Korea in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Social work education in South Korea has significantly advanced since 1947. However, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and COVID-19 have significantly altered contemporary Korean social work education. Therefore, the current study aims to provide an overview of the state of social work education in South Korea. Based on Posner’s curriculum analysis theory, this study analyzed 1) the history and characteristics, 2) education curriculum, 3) institutional system, and 4) criticism of social work education in South Korea. Consequently, the present study found limited response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and COVID-19 including the development of emerging subjects (e.g. Social Welfare and Big Data), from universities. This study also confirmed that the non-face-to-face practicum arrangements due to COVID-19 are temporary and ineffective. Additionally, we noted a lack of development in high-quality non-face-to-face or virtual reality-based field practicums from a long-term perspective. Furthermore, the present study highlights the need to integrate social work education (e.g. theory with practice and practice with policy), improve curriculum and quality control (e.g. prevent the indiscreet expansion of educational institutions and the mass production of social work licensing), and respond promptly and effectively to emerging social needs (e.g. diversity).