The Welfare Mix of Home Care Services in Korea

: Survey and Analysis of Care Service Providers in Municipality B in Seoul

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the welfare mix of home care services in metropolitan Korea by examining how the institutional environment associated with marketization affects the behavior of for-profit and non-profit providers, and by examining the relationships between providers and between the government and providers. An interview survey was conducted with the managers of 11 home care service providers （home-visit care and day care） in municipality B in Seoul. The data analysis demonstrated that in the institutional environment associated with the marketization of home care services in Korea, an increase in the number of for-profit providers, primarily individual business owners, has led to competition among providers to secure service users. Marketization is also progressing. This trend is especially pronounced in home-visit care, where marketization is higher. For daycare services, the social welfare corporations of religious organizations that have operated welfare centers have played a central role since the early stages of the system, and cooperative relationships between providers have been observed. The results revealed varying institutional environment influences depending on the type of service.