Three Years Later: A Reflection on Korean Social Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This qualitative study explored how social workers experienced changes, responded to the changes, and adapted to challenges in the ever-changing COVID-19 situation. This study interviewed 10 Korean social workers entering the post-pandemic era after enduring about three years of pandemic social work practice. A maximum variation sampling strategy of purposive sampling was used to collect data from social workers in various social work practice settings in South Korea. In-depth interviews, either in-person or Zoom videoconferencing, were conducted, and inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Three key themes were drawn from interviews: Catching the Two Rabbits of Quarantine and Service Provision, Social Work Practices More Vulnerable to Disaster Situations, and Growth and Lessons Learned through the COVID-19 Pandemic. Korean social workers’ experiences with service delivery countermeasures and the role that commitment to the profession and vocational responsibility played in social worker endurance and adaptability are reflected in the named themes. Lessons learned from this research can inform future policies and assist in the development of best practice guidelines in the event of future disasters.