Educating & Qualifying Youth

Workers in Korea

Park, Young-Kyoon

National Youth Policy Institute

Introducing the System
 The system of educating and qualifying
Accredited Youth Workers was officially
initiated along with the legislation of Youth
Basic Law in 1992
 The purpose of the system is to raise
quality youth workers on the national
level, to address diverse problems of
children and youth in this rapidly changing
society
 Certificates are issued to those who pass
the written test, interview, and finished
training courses successfully
Summary of Development
 1988. Seoul Olympics held
 1991. Established Korea Youth Basic Plan
 1992. Youth Basic Law (YBL) enacted
 1993. Started educating and certifying
Accredited Youth Worker (AYW)
 1999. Revised YBL and new system of
cultivating AYW introduced
The Current System
 Qualifying exam and training are carried out once a
year upon consignment of the Minister of Health,
Welfare, and Family Affairs
 The national certificate of youth worker is officially
certified by the Minister
 AYWs are teaching and leading the children and
youth in the fields of youth activity, youth welfare,
and youth protection programs
 Programs are being developed nationally and
provided to the facilities and activity fields
Youth Worker
 Definition
 Accredited Youth Worker is the one who
passed the qualifying exam and finished the
training courses successfully at a
designated institute (Article 21)
 Role
 Work for youth activity, for welfare, or
protection of youth from harm at a youth
training facility or youth organization
Certificates and Tests
 Types of Certificates
 Three classes (1st , 2nd , 3rd ) of national
certificates according to the Youth Basic Law
(Clause 4 of Article 21)

 1st Grade Certificate

 Methodology of youth research, Youth right
and participation, Youth policy, Administration
of youth organization, Theory on youth leader
Written Test Subjects
 2nd Grade Certificate
 Youth fostering system, Coaching
methodology for youth, Psychology of youth
and counseling, Youth culture, Youth activity,
Youth welfare, Program development and
evaluation, Youth problems and protection
 3rd Grade Certificate
 Youth fostering system, Coaching
methodology for youth, Psychology of youth
and counseling, Youth culture, Youth activity,
Program development and evaluation, Youth
problems and protection
Interview
 Interviews are executed to the
applicants applying for the 1st and
2nd grade certificates only
 Interviews are focused on the
applicants’ value, attitude,
etiquette, diligence, creativity,
communication skills, knowledge
on young people, and will power,
etc., as a promising youth worker
Qualification for
Application
 Minimum qualification to apply for the exam
are different according to the applying grade
 1st grade certificate: 3 yrs of work experience in
appropriate field with the 2nd grade certificate

 2nd grade certificate: Finished every course defined

by the law as his/her major subjects at a 4-yr college
or university

 3rd grade certificate: Finished every course defined

by the law as his/her major subjects at a 2-yr college
Statistical Figures
 The number of current youth workers
is 17,553 (Ministry of Health, Welfare,
and Family Affairs, 2008)

 1st grade certificate holder: 1,293

 2nd grade certificate holder: 10,342

 3rd grade certificate holder: 5,918

Problems of Current
System
 Written Test
 No adequate consideration on AYW’s role
and job tasks needed in the field
 Test subjects are not fully standardized
 Problems of standardization,
appropriateness, and other way of
implementation, result in objectivity and
discrimination in deciding successful
candidates
Problems of Current
System
 Interview
 Rough and not-well organized
 Vague and obscure questions

 Time shortage results in

ceremonious procedure
 Difficult selecting well-prepared

applicants
Problems of Current
System
 Training Courses
 Completing the training is obligatory
for every successful candidates,
however,
 Training courses last only four (4)

working days
 Considering the importance of

AYWs’ duty or role, the period of

training is too short
Improving Current System
 Set up Qualification Framework
(QF) for certifying system
 Develop National Skills

Standard (NSS)
 Establish systematic

management procedures for

AYWs
Improving Current System
 Reduce the number of exam
subjects to attest basic quality and
ability of applicants
 Expand training period to secure
professional excellence of
Accredited Youth Workers
 Reinforce stationing standard of
AYWs to public facilities and
institutions for children and youth
Conclusion
 The system of educating and
training AYWs in Korea is unique
and well developed
 However, constant efforts

needed to improve the related

provision and national system on
AYW
 Thank You!