Underqualified counselors are rampant amid rising counseling demand in Korea

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Amid the increasing demand for counseling in Korea, driven by a rise in depression patients and a preference for counseling over medical treatment, there is a shortage of certified counselors.

In addition, lack of regulation and oversight has led to an increase in harm caused by unqualified counselors.

According to the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education & Training, the number of registered certificates related to psychological counseling has increased from 195 in 2015 to 3,366 as of Monday. Since anyone can easily register a certificate without undergoing any evaluation, the types and numbers of certificates have been rapidly increasing each year.

Many of these certificates are less reputable or reliable private certifications, but there are currently no measures in place to prevent them. Efforts have not been entirely absent, as four relevant bills are pending at the National Assembly. According to these bills, those eligible to be recognized as psychological counselors should hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology and complete over 3,000 hours of practical training for more than two years, or hold a master’s or doctorate degree and complete over 1,000 hours of practical training for more than a year. The main purpose of these bills is to prohibit unqualified individuals from conducting psychological tests and counseling. However, these bills have been left pending in the health and welfare committee for over a year.

Currently, the domestic counseling market is in favor of the suppliers. According to the Korean Psychological Association, the number of mental healthcare specialists per 100,000 population in Korea was only 16.2 as of 2016, which is only one-sixth of the OECD average of 97.1. Hospitals with licensed mental health clinical psychologists usually have waiting periods of one to two months even for those who make reservations. Moreover, counseling costs are not covered by health insurance and lack a standard, resulting in counselors often charging as much as they want.

Exploiting such loopholes, there is a growing number of unqualified psychological counselors. “There are many cases where unqualified counselors provide makeshift prescriptions, taking advantage of legal loopholes,” said one unnamed counselor. “Religious organizations serve as major breeding grounds for these fake counselors due to loose regulations, and it is difficult to pass regulations as politicians are often cautious of the religious sectors, being conscious of potential votes,” explained another counselor.

“There is a growing need for active measures to improve mental health welfare for the public, including enacting relevant laws and enabling insurance coverage,” said one clinical psychologist.