• Journal of Korean social welfare administration
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.171-202
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which the current KASW code of ethics works in social work practice and to propose, if necessary, the future of the KASW code of ethics. This study is firstly to analyse the KASW Code of ethics in terms of contents as well as structures, by comparing it with those in the United States, Canada, Britain, Sweden, and Australia.. This study is also to compare the KASW Code of ethics with those of other professional associations in Korea such as doctors and nurses. Lastly, this study is to conduct both a survey of 429 social workers using a structured questionnaire, and focus-group interviews with 8 social workers, all of whose participants are enrolled in the KASW Research Panel Group. The findings are as follows. The current KASW code of ethics lacks core values and ethical principles that those in other key countries contain. It also fails to recognize the importance of ethical guidances that other professional associations emphasize. Most importantly, social workers ungently demand a revision of the KASW code of conduct in a way of reflecting the societal change in the 21st century. This study suggests that the KASW should revise its code of ethics in the near future, and that its contents should deal with key issues including diversity, inclusiveness, right to protect social workers from harms, accountability of social agencies, and that its way should be responsive to the voices of social workers in practice settings.