Research Trends in Student Counseling and Student Support in South Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review research on student counseling and student support and obtain basic data on recent research trends in South Korea. Five research topics were extracted from 50 studies selected from bibliographic databases: intervention methods for student counseling and student support, attitudes and stigma toward counseling and psychological help, comparisons with other countries and cultural differences with the West, research related to Internet use, and college students’ adjustment with a focus on specific traits. The results revealed that many South Korean studies demonstrated a strong awareness of the influence of the social and cultural background of their country. Moreover, the studies sought to modify psychological methods developed in the West to suit the South Korean society and culture and apply such to clinical practice. Future research should clarify the differences between Japan and South Korea in relation to studies in which emphasis is placed on being conscious of one’s own culture and Western methods are accepted in student counseling and student support.