A Study on the Social Welfare Service Delivery System in South Korean Island Areas

In this study, the researcher analyzed the social welfare service delivery system in South Korean island areas. A qualitative study method was used to explore the structure, practices, and processes of the island areas’ social welfare service delivery system. The study participants were six individuals, including social workers and public officials, engaged in Shinan County’s social welfare service delivery system. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews, which were conducted over approximately two months, from February to March 2025. Each interview lasted between one and two hours. Efforts were made to ensure the credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability of the study findings, based on which the following recommendations are presented. Due to the characteristics of Shinan County, which is isolated from the rest of the country by sea, there are difficulties in distributing social welfare facilities and providing specialized services. To address these difficulties, base facilities should be established in different locations, mobile specialized services should be introduced, public–private cooperation should be strengthened, an integrated database should be constructed, and new volunteer services mainly provided by young and middle-aged adults should be activated

Qualitative research · Service (business · Service delivery framework · Service system · Social Welfare · Welfare · Welfare system · Diverse Approaches in Healthcare and Education Studies · Educational Systems and Policies · Health and Wellbeing Research · Social Work