Occupational Therapy in
Republic of Korea
Under COVID-19 Situation
2021.09.09

Presenter

Ji, Seokyeon, KOT.
President of KAOT Seoul
Metropolitan branch
CO-CEO of SISO center
OT for/with people withdevelopmental issues

Contents
Introduction & Statistics
OT under COVID-19 situations

1969

The 1st Occupational Therapy License

Semicentennial and New Semicentennial
2019

1953

1965

1969

1979

1993

1998

2000

2012

* 1st OT Education (US* OT described in Act of Medical Service Technologists, ETC.
* 1st OT license* 1st OT school.

+ 22 Quantity
Schools*+3 OT schools.

Quality* KAOT* WFOT full membership

1138416

2013

2014

2015

2016

2019

2020

* KAOT Seoul office* License Renewal System (by MHW)
* Revised Article: Scope of OT (Physicial + Mental Health)

New Semi-Centennial& COVID-19* Standard terminology for Medical-based OT* WFOT EM Team meeting* 50th Anniversary of KOT

Legislation
Policy* Revised Mental Health and Welfare Act(Included OT as MH Specialist)

10~12th President(Jeon, Byeong-jin)

Numbers of OT
Regitered OT

Licensed OT Total
22,38020,445

Licensed Rate••18,517
16,737

StablePredictable

14,78913,174

Renewal Registration

11,391
10,071
7586

8,539

3,594

3,966

2012

2013

4,667

5,133

2014

2015

5,837

6,422

7465

6807

7979

8417

• Every 3 years after Licensed OT*• Completion CE (8credits per year)• KAOT: CE provider

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

*Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute, Ministry of Health & Welfare

KAOT members
KAOT membership

KAOT members' age distribution%(total=15,654 / Full-member=6511(41.6%)
60.0%
50.0%

49.5%
40.0%

43.0%

30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
20306.4%

0.9%

0.1%

405060Female : Male = 8 : 2*Korea Association of Occupational Therapists

Status of KOT workplaces

45.5%

Hospital

MH Hospital

Licensed OT

Senior G.
Hospital

0.04%

Public Health Center
4.4%

9.2%

(22,380 / 100%)
Medical-based: 60%

KAOT

Member(*15,654 / 70%)

2.1%

OT Edu & researchEnterprises
Welfare
14.6%

0.5%

MH&W center

0.3%

Private
6.7%

Others14.7%

Non medical-based: 40%*Korea Association of Occupational Therapists

KOT numbers in Mental Health20002010

2020

2021

15016%

118

Medical-based
Community-based

113
75
5084%

3813170• Increasing recruitment of OT in the community-based mental health & welfare centers.
Korea Academy of Mental Health in Occupational Therapy*Not included OT working for Geriatric, Child & Adolescent with Mental disorders

Mental Health Occupational Therapists: Legislation
1995

Mental Healthcare Act

1997

MH specialist:

2017

Mental Healthcare & Welfare Sup
port Act

2020.3.6

Passed Revised MH&W Act:OT included as MH specialist

Nurse, Social Worker,
Clinical Psychologist

In favor

165 (97.63%)

Against0Abstention

4 (2.37%)

Healthcare systems & OT qualification
Areas
Physical Rehabilitation

Medical-based

Mental health
ENT, Pediatrics, Gynecology,
Orthopedics, etc.

Community-based

ElderlySchool-based

Diverse students+

People with disabilities+

PolicyRegulation

OT License

OO

RequiredO (2020)

under preparation(2020)..

..

..

Increasing

IncludedCommunity Care
Deinstitutionalization
O (?)

Pilot projects (home-based rehab)
for insurance
Regular, irregular intervention,
consultation+ Private workplace (for children)+ Acquisition of additional certification/qualification (social worker, community rehab-worker, etc.)..
..
(Differed by district)Issue: Developing Quality of OT
UserClient

IndividualGroupOrganization

SocietyNation

Meso level

Macro level

OT
Individual

Micro level
Techniques
SkillsIdentity
Qualification
Credit/Score

Organization

Framework
Collaboration
Management
Networking
Knowledge transition

Philosophy
Political Participation
Legislation
SystemJusticeKAOT Central
Local Branches

Board of Directors

Affiliated Organizations

Busan-Unsan-Gyeongnam
Daejeon-Sejong-Chungcheong
Daegu-Gyeongbuk
GangwonGwangju-Jeonnam
Incheon-Gyeonggi
Jeju
Jeonbuk
Seoul

Korea Occupational Therapy
Students CongressAffiliated Academic OrganizationsOccupational Therapists+ Rehabilitation physicians

Elderly

Dysphagia

Assistive Tech.

Mental healthChild & School

Cognitive Rehabilitation

Sensory integration

Hand

Community-based

NeuroDriving Rehab

Work / Vocation

Elderly

Occupational Science

Dysphagia

Dysphagia

Pediatrics

The Korean Accreditation Board of Occupational Therapy
Education

OT Education
WFOT Approved Education Programs in Korea
27

Undergraduate
programs

23
18

12

5

6

7

Total

8

WFOT
AEP

1
1988

2007

2008

2011

2012

2016

2017

2018

2021

3years

4years30

32

8(26.7%)19(59.4%)

Post graduate programs23Korea Occupational Therapy Student Congress
OT students Arena (1994)  OT students’ Association• Volunteer• Seminar Exchange Enhancing leadership Seminar Volunteer activities exhibition
 Promoting OTKorea Occupational Therapy Student Congress: COVID19 Situations
Online seminar

Volunteer camp
ATech. Contest

OT promotion
Virtual visiting high school

Online Quiz
https://www.instagram.com/_kotsc/

Ideas of OT students’ Exchange Activities (International)
OT Students

IndividualOrganization

Information
Occupational Diversity
 Culture Habit Environment Lifestyle, etc.

Communication CounterExperience

Outcomes Exchange programs
 Fieldtrip
 Students’ conferences

SupportHistory
Leadership
Understanding diversity? Collaborative research? Policy porposals

OT Under
COVID-19 Situation

Infected Individuals

Quarantine

Uncertainty
Anxiety

Constraints
ClosureLack of Guidelines

Over-reaction

Dissatisfaction
Suspension

Forced transfer toInfection control team

Life functioning
InfectionControl
People who need
- life care
- help to participate
OCCUPATION

Appreciating(medical) healthcare worker
OccupationalTherapy

On-linecommunication

KAOT Newsletter

Forced to change- Public- Policy People

Prepared
to be
Changed& Challenged

OT hasMedical knowledge

Actions for OT

Individuals’ Participation

Encouraging OT

Upgrading Online Systems• KAOT web / mobile homepage• Mobile web-magazine for brief news
• Close & Open Social network

Developing Online Contents• Developing Online CE contents• Sharing individuals’ gifts for public• Encouraging OT students’ participation• Managing Confidentiality

Developing infection management guide for OT• Upgrading previous researches for dysphagia• Accessibility : Mobile web-magazine, Youtube,Newsletters

Organizational Support

Academic Activities & Education
OT & OT students
Education••

Developing virtual practice program
Collaborating with client groups

Virtual Conference- KSOT••

Challenges and innovations in contactless OT
Various participation from overseas

Continuing Education•

Online Education
supplementary  mainCollaborating with diverse groups
Sharing Health Information-Online education (OT’s Tip)
Video (Youtube, etc.)

Tele Supporting
Digital Occupational Therapy-Solidarity
Respect

Mutual Advocacy

Visiting Community-Collaborating
Consulting

Community-based
School-based-Positivity
Diversity

Activities for people suffering from COVID19, side
effect of vaccine
Surveying people with disabilities
Spring & Summer CampOT in Korea, OT in Pandemic Challenge– Chance to start, change, develop• First semicentennial
 war, for the wounded starting occupational therapy
 medical-care based• New semicentennial mental disorder, diversity (minority) upgrading occupational therapy
 expanded health-careThank you foryour attention
andwarm support !

Occupational Therapy inRepublic of Korea
Under COVID-19 Situation
2021.09.09
Open session

Presenter

Ji, Seokyeon, KOT.
President of KAOT Seoul Metropolitan branch
CO-CEO of SISO centerOT for/with people with developmental issues

Contents
Introduction KAOTOT under COVID-19 situations

1969

The 1st Occupational Therapy License

Semicentennial and New Semicentennial
2019

1953

1965

1969

1979

1993

1998

2000

2012

* 1st OT Education* OT described in Act of Medical Service Technologists, ETC.
* 1st OT license* 1st OT school.

*+3 OT schools.
* KAOT+ 22 Quantity
SchoolsQuality* WFOT full membership

2013

2014

2015

2016

2019

2020

* KAOT Seoul office* License Renewal System (by MHW)
* Revised Article: Scope of OT (Physicial + Mental Health)New Semi-Centennial& COVID-19* Standard terminology for Medical-based OT* WFOT EM Team meeting

Legislation
Policy* 50th Anniversary of KOT* Revised Mental Health and Welfare Act(Included OT as MH Specialist)

KAOT Central
Local BranchBusan-Unsan-Gyeongnam
Daejeon-Sejong-Chungcheong
Daegu-Gyeongbuk
GangwonGwangju-Jeonnam
Incheon-Gyeonggi
Jeju
Jeonbuk
Seoul

Board of Directors

Affiliated Organizations

OT Under
COVID-19 Situation
Pros, Cons and Next steps

Vaccine

COVID-19 in Korea
Suspension
Confusing regulations/guidelines(1.9%)

Diverse trials & challenges

2020.22020.82020.12-2021.1

2021.8Infected Individuals

Quarantine

Uncertainty
Anxiety

Constraints
ClosureLack of Guidelines

Over-reaction

Dissatisfaction
Suspension

Forced transfer toInfection control teamTherapists working for infection control

Daegu, The hottest place of South Korea

Life functioning
InfectionControl
People who need
- life care
- help to participate
OCCUPATION

Appreciating(medical) healthcare worker
Occupational

TherapyOn-line
communication

KAOT Newsletter

Forced to change- Public- Policy People

Preparedto beChanged& Challenged

OT hasMedical knowledge

Actions for OT
Academic Activities & Education

Collaborating with Diverse groups

Actions for OT

Individuals’ Participation

Encouraging OT

Upgrading Online Systems• KAOT web / mobile homepage• Mobile web-magazine for brief news
• Close & Open Social network

Developing Online Contents• Developing Online CE contents• Sharing individuals’ gifts for public• Encouraging OT students’ participation• Managing Confidentiality

Developing infection management guide for OT• Upgrading previous researches for dysphagia• Accessibility : Mobile web-magazine, Youtube,Newsletters

Organizational Support

Academic Activities & Education
OT & OT studentsEducation••

Developing virtual practice program
Collaborating with client groups

Virtual Conference- KSOT••

Challenges and innovations in contactless OT
Various participation from overseas

Continuing Education•

Online Education
supplementary  mainTele-service / Digital Occupational Therapy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYyOQVKT2FU&t=2769s• Diverse digital OT for people with mental disorders, dementia• Risk can be the chance to changeCollaborating with diverse groups; Online

Online education (OT’s Tip)
With advocacy group

For youth in shelterWith PT association

Seoul Education Office: Official education video for the School Teachers-Psychiatrist
Occupational therapists
Speech Language therapists
ABA therapists
Special Education teachersCollaborating with diverse groups; DirectHome visiting+ Local governments+ Advocacy groups of people withdisabilities

CampCollaborating with diverse groups
Surveying people with disabilities & their caregivers (April, 2020)
Responders: 188(Male 66%, Female 32%, Others 2%)

••
•
•
•
•

Brain Injury 41.7%
Physical disability 38.6%
Visual impairment 6.3%
Hearing impairment 3.9%
Mental disorder 4.7%
Etc. 2.4%

Leisure, Moving outside, Exercise,Education, WorkSOCIAL PARTICIPATION

Responders=1,604(Male 69%, Female 31%) – responding by parents• Developmental disabilities- Intellectual disorders 50%- ASD 40%
- Combined 10%
Challenging behavior
Stress & Burden

Occupational Deterioration by the distancing

Surveying people with disabilities & their caregivers (April, 2020)
Suspension of school & welfare facilities, staying in home with parents (mainly mother) only
News: Caregivers’ suicide after homicide,Accident by falling (from window) during quarantine

Stress ofpeople with
developmental disabilities

SleepingEating

Toileting(Bladder)

Toileting(Bowel)
BeforePandemic

ADL
AfterPandemic

Outdoor Activities

Stress of thecaregivers

Relieving StressCommunicating

Life functioning

Occupational Therapy
Professionals, students

People who need- life care
- help to participate
OCCUPATIONWe Should do SOMETHING!
In safe situations

Stay Strong + Together

National Youth Centers

Parents Network for the people withdisabilities•Recruiting families of youth withdisabilities
RefreshRelief
New relationships
New occupations

3 days camp

KAOT branches•••• OT & OT students volunteers
ChallengeContribution
Learning

Space (available for 1,100)
Accommodations for youths andvolunteers
Youth leaders for siblings
Challenge
Contribution

SST Camp

2021.4 ~ 8Discontinue

The Youth Center was designated as aresidential treatment facility for COVID19 asymptomatic cases.

Total N=262
Children & Youthwith disabilities (60)
Dx.

Age

GenderFamilies (117)

ASD

ID

CP

58%

38%

3%

Under
1011-15

16-20

21-24

20

23

125

MaleFemale

44

16

OT members (85)

Parents

Siblings

OT

OT students

82353550

123456AprilAprilMayMayJulyAugustPartner for youth  supervisor of OTs

SST Camp - Changes & Results
Parents

OT / OTs•

Intention to Re-participate: 100%•

Opportunity for professional improvement•

Chance for practiceSST CampMutual
Advocacy

Evidence by Attempts

MutualGrowthSolidarity

Diversity

Respect

Positivity

Thank you..!!!
Thank you for Attending.
Tell us if you have any questions