Trends and Directions of Agricultural Extension Services under the Local Autonomy Period in Korea

지방자치시대의 농촌지도업무의 변화와 방향

The purposes of the study were to identify the present status of the agricultural extension services in Korea and its surrounding environment, and to search the desirable ways of improvement under the serious restructuring period occurred by the nation-wide localization, globalization and development of information technology. Agricultural extension services have made great accomplishment in the education for rural people and agricultural technology diffusion, but agricultural extension service system no longer well fits in the changed environment. Agricultural extension services in Korea should restructure the system, function and methods in order to cope with the changing technology and rural society. The objectives of the extension services should be clear and simplified so that the extension workers can understand their role and duty more clearly. The local governments should encourage the extension workers to carry out their services diligently and with the pride. Also, the extension workers should change their mind to fit in the changing world and should improve their capability for their services.