Counseling System @ Korea?

KOREAN COUNSELING SYSTEM

In study by Kim (2015), the Korean counseling version was adapted from the West. The theories and ideas of guidance counseling had been Western ideas and concepts. There may be some concepts that could preserve actual to both cultures, however maximum western regulations and strategies could not paintings properly with Korea’s cultural variations. because of the unwell-defined roles and systems for the Disciplinary guidance teachers (counseling model), the counseling career become no longer effectively included into the Korean school system till the 1990’s (Lee, Oh, & Suh, 2007). Due to those cultural differences between the West and Korea, some principles and practices might make logical sense in theory, but in reality it might lack relevance in Korea. The theory of a university counseling centre within the united states of America is unambiguous, but university counseling centres are uncommon in Asian and tend to be inspired by way of, or adapted versions of, extant theories and models, normally due to the educational and monetary exchanges between Asia and the United States (Leong & Pope, 2002; Tan & Goh, 2002).The Korean Counseling Psychological Association (KCPA) evolved a program in 2003 so as begin training counselors to fulfill Korea’s need for the future. The requirements to obtain a counselor certification consists of a 4-week practicum that is usually run by the university, written examination and a log with documented evidence of counseling related training experience. “When compared to the 700-hour practicum requirements of the united statesschool counselors, this appears to be insufficient to allow sufficient opportunities for developing clinical capabilities and expertise practical issues in school counseling (Eun & Kim, 2004; Yu, 2007). The program does not provide sufficient time to prepare the guidance counselors to handle and guide students. Their lack of familiarity with the proper meaning of counseling and guidance is the imperative problem. Via constantly generating underneath certified counselors to guide college students will produce detrimental effects from counselors, and deliver students a lack of clear guidance.There have been several tries to set up a counseling system which is constructed to meet the needs of Korean society with some modifications in policies, and situations implemented by using the government (Lee, S., & Yang, E 2008). This includes the growth of training programs for current school teachers and counselors. But the modern-day counseling system is still within the extraordinarily elementary stages. It’s far a major situation to the education management that Korea does now not have a formal training model or training standards. The existing curriculum is focused on knowledge, techniques and talents however is less concerned approximately personal qualities and tendencies (Lee, 1996; Jang, 2009). The cutting-edge training need to be focused on constructing a knowledge base for a counselor or private practitioner with little consideration of experiential learning or particular demands in faculty settings (Lee, Oh, et al., 2007). The counselors should also have professional expertise and knowledge to recommend students. The Korean government has tried to refine this system, by allowing school teachers to turn out to be guidance counselors. This provides on to the issue of professional identity of counselors, and it also creates a difficult opportunity for new educated professional counselors to go into the area. Up until 2007, there had been a total of 485 school counseling jobs in Korea. Of the 485 jobs, 306 had been on school board school counselors, 47 are middle school counselors 110 are vocational high school counselors, and 22 are general high school counselors. The research conducted by Yang and Lee (2009) shows us statistically the lack of counselors all through the U. S. of Korea.
As one can see from the figures the contemporary counseling system shows a lack of counsellors in Korea. A majority of the present day guidance counselors in school are former teachers. It is argued by the Ministry of education, science and technology [MEST] that a teacher could be appropriate counselor due to the connection and time spent with the student. The training of school counselors need to focus not handiest on counseling processes but also on school systems (Martin, 2002). Although teaching experience would be useful for counseling, it isn't a prerequisite. For the time being school counselors are expected to cope with too many issues in Korean schools. Those include psychological and behavioral issues in students. “School counsellors can also regard their primary position as an advocate for students, but in truth they're faced with non-counseling-related activities which include administrative work (Kim, H. D. 2007, p. 163) or clinical expertise past their training. It’s far important that faculty counselors are capable and organized to carry out a wide range of activities that could advance the academic, career and social development of the students.Teachers who make the change from teacher to counselor do not display their clear aim for the switch of their profession. The absence of their true intentions for the switch in profession isn't always confirmed. Those teachers are not certified to be school counselors; they simply want this to enhance their profession. “Many teachers saw acquiring this new certification as a step toward becoming a school principal and opted to work in an administrative role when given the opportunity” (Lee, et al., 2007, p. 161). Establishing an awesome school counselor’s role is a vital a part of creating and coping with a successful school system in South Korea. 

Article form study by Paul Kim. 2015. Korea’s Need for Qualified Counselors.