ABSTRACT

South Korea has grown into one of the world’s leading economies and recently gained membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD). Its labor welfare has also expanded to meet the increasing needs of South Korean workers. A look at South Korean welfare history demonstrates that welfare has broadened its range of concerns from corporate restaurants, dormitories, and medicines to the nonmaterial issues newly troubling workers. To contend with these emerging concerns, which include mental health issues, family conflicts, and substance abuse incidents, South Korean unions are seeking to launch Member Assistance Programs (MAPs).