Volunteerism: A reckoning force for NGOs and the civil society in South Korea

Volunteerism is an old phenomenon that is rooted in the early communities of human settlement that impacted the lives of individuals and groups. Evolution in history has shaped this concept to fit into the socio-cultural, economic and political arena of human activities. NGOs and civil society organizations in South Korea through voluntary social services recorded significant changes in the country’s history that led to a gradual transition from a dictatorial to a democratic regime. A look at some factors will elucidate the link between volunteerism, NGOs and the civil society in South Korea.

The voluntary sector in South Korea is proliferated with NGOs that work as substitutes, collaborators and opponents to the government. The manner in which volunteers take up their assigned responsibilities is like a subject that is thought in a school’s curriculum. It is alleged that some companies or organizations will give preference to job seekers who have a good volunteer record. It is quite common for students to give up part of their semester and assist in volunteer work that improves the quality of live for some people. There are NGOs in Korea that each year they use about eleven (11000) volunteers both at the national and international level to boost their activities. Irrespective of age and the personality factor, most Koreans feel indebted in serving their community with utmost love and concern. The proceeds from most NGOs come from freely registered members who make it a point of duty for regular or irregular contribution to the organization they are affiliated too. The benefit they receive from such gestures is just the satisfaction that there is transparency and judicious management of the resources by the organization in question.

In a survey conducted by a Korean voluntary organization in 1997, about sixty (60) thousand recognized organizations are actively engaged in community activities. In an article by Kim (2004), he looks at the evolution of civil society organizations in three significant phases in South Korea; In the first phase in 1960s, voluntary organizations had as mission to provide services that citizens needed most. Focus was therefore on welfare services and development projects for poverty alleviation. In 1987, civil society organizations acted on behalf of average citizens and demanded the judicious management of public institutions, equal rights, democracy and justice. In the third phase in 1990, the civil society expressed the desire for more equitable and transparent management of public resources and citizens participation in public debates. It is noted that the composition of civil society leadership, party politics and the popular perception of democracy gave a major push to the already existing voluntary desire nursed in the minds of Koreans.

McCurley and Lynch (1996) looks at changes and development of NGOs to mean “...sense of civic duty, those who feel obligated to give back what they got, religious conviction, those who want to make a difference in the world, those who feel the need to help others and those who believe in the cause”. Most renowned NGOs in South Korea are affiliated to religion. This religious connotation enhance the desire to volunteer and this has gone beyond limits as most civil society organizations apply this modus operandi to win more followers to their course. This collective identity under the umbrella of religion has created some degree of consciousness to employees and those who willingly give up their services to the entire community. Although religion has encouraged more voluntary services masterminded by NGOs, volunteerism is a common platform where action is taken without distinction or religious denomination.

Cash donation as a fund raising strategy put in place by NGOs which has drawn much attention from the general public to participate in voluntary services. Cash donation exercises targets pupils, students and adults from all works of life to contribute any cash amount they have in some designated areas across big cities. This exercise has been an awareness campaign that has inculcated the spirit of volunteer across all age groups. Every Korean irrespective of age and status in the society wants to be identified with one volunteer service or another which seems to boost their personality factor. This can equally be compared to the obligatory military service for all men in Korea. Those who fail to join this obligatory military service are considered unfit to join the rank of men.

Celebrities are often use as ambassadors of peace in most international humanitarian organizations to send across a specific message. Most South Korean NGOs team up with some celebrities who volunteer to offer performances on their behalf to raise funds and awareness on pertinent issues in the society. This is called cultural marketing and has been an eye opener to the general public who see no reason to stay behind when others are making an impact whenever they are called with every means they have.

Volunteer services through corporate social responsibility have given a boost to Korean NGOs. Renowned NGOs partner with multinational companies and through their assistance, volunteers are hired to work at the domestic and international level. In return these companies brandish their brand name in schools, hospitals or bridges constructed by these NGOs.  Although this strategy has been criticized by some scholars as being a marketing tool for multinational companies and overriding the original ambitions of NGOs, this has gone a long way to make some of these NGOs open up new grounds in alleviating poverty.

There is absolute need to consider volunteers and their services as an important component of any organization. Gann (1996) indicates that “the setting and enforcing of policies involving volunteers are two of the most visible ways you can demonstrate commitment and integration of volunteers in your organization”. Ellis (1996) also mentions that “the ability to recruit volunteers is strongly and directly connected to your organizations image in the community. If the public sees your agency effectively filling a need, it will be easier to encourage volunteers to join you”. The example of Korean NGOs is worth emulating by other NGOs that aspire to stand tall in poverty alleviation. The spirit of volunteering can make any organization move further if and only the rights of volunteers are not abused.

Nfor Canicius