South Korea Overhauls Volunteer Service Law for Citizen-Led System After 21 Years

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 24th that the National Assembly has passed a full revision of the Framework Act on Volunteer Service to foster a self-sustaining, civil society-led volunteer ecosystem.

The revision aims to build a “citizen-centered volunteer ecosystem” that expands volunteers’ autonomy and creativity, building on infrastructure previously developed by the government.

Under the revised law, government-run volunteer centers will be phased out. Of the nation’s 246 volunteer centers, 110 are directly operated by public officials. Those centers will have a three-year transition period to incorporate or shift to operation by a contracted nonprofit, a move the ministry said is expected to strengthen professionalism and independence.

The revision also creates a legal basis for local governments to establish regional volunteer promotion committees that include private-sector experts, aiming to better reflect community needs in policy.

For the first time, the law spells out a basis to train and support volunteer managers — key personnel at grassroots groups and volunteer centers who coordinate activities and connect volunteers. The government will provide administrative and financial support, and plans to detail qualifications and scope in a presidential decree.

The law’s title will change from the “Framework Act on Volunteer Activities” to the “Framework Act on Volunteer Service.” It also broadens the definition of volunteer service to include providing talent and skills, not only time and effort, and it covers volunteer work conducted through online platforms. The eligible participants are expanded from “citizens” to “individuals,” including foreign residents.

To strengthen infrastructure, the revision clarifies the legal basis for operating the 1365 Volunteer Portal and codifies the basis for compiling volunteer statistics, which were designated as government-approved statistics in January, enabling more data-driven policymaking.

The revised law is set to take full effect one year after it is promulgated.

Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung said the revision marks a shift beyond a government-led era to one in which citizens’ voluntary participation and creativity become a key driver in solving social problems. “On the stable legal foundation 마련ed for the first time in 21 years, we will provide full support so volunteer service can take root as a valuable asset to our society,” he said.



* This article has been translated by AI.

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