Localization Process of Agricultural Extension Personnel and the Tasks for the Future

농촌지도직 공무원의 지방직 전환 과정과 앞으로의 과제

Localization process of agricultural extension personnel in Korea were in progress with insufficient debates for effective personnel management. Although the members of the Korean Agricultural Extension Society were strongly opposed to the plan to decentralize agricultural extension personnel from central to local government status, the administrative action took place to localize as of January 1997. The Korean Agricultural Extension Society filed the petition against to the plan pinpointing lowered morale of extension personnel, the financial burden of local governments, jeopardizing stability, undermining efficiency, and people`s attitude towards central and local government. The dangers of decentralization of agricultural extension services may cause serious problems in varied areas. More extensive debates would be needed in deciding the future directions of agricultural extension services analyzing the basic characteristics of agricultural extension, linkages of research and extension, financial burden of local government, specialization of extension personnel, and unnecessary duplication of investment among local governments.