Background of Research
The purpose of this study is 1) to investigate the current situation of rural residents’ competence and village welfare activation, 2) to identify the current conditions and problems of related policies, and 3) to suggest the direction and policy tasks of village welfare activation utilizing the competence of rural residents.

Method of Research
The major research methods were the field survey, telephone survey, focus group interview, overseas field survey, and investigation of existing data. The field survey was conducted among 300 rural residents. The telephone survey was conducted among 120 social organizations. Three focus group interviews were conducted. The overseas field survey was conducted in Germany. Existing related data were collected by searching the data of related research institutes and governmental organizations. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentage, means and t-test, multiple regression analysis were used to organize and summarize the data.

Research Results and Implications
The basic direction of village welfare activation utilizing the competence of rural residents is as follows: ① active uses of rural residents’ competence, ② strengthening socio-economic competence, and ③ 5 types of policy approaches (ⓐ complementing the blind spot of national welfare, ⓑ supplementation of areas where social welfare services are absolutely insufficient, ⓒ improvement of existing national welfare projects, ⓓ promotion of unique village welfare projects, and ⓔ improvement of legal and institutional basis).
Major policy tasks to activate the village welfare utilizing the competence of rural residents in complementing the blind spot of national welfare are ① care for mild dementia patients, and ② promotion of village welfare projects during the non-farming season.
Major policy tasks to activate the village welfare utilizing the competence of rural residents in the supplementation of areas where social welfare services are absolutely insufficient are ① enlargement of talking partner service, and ② provision of community meals during the major farming season.
Major policy tasks to activate the village welfare utilizing the competence of rural residents in the improvement of existing national welfare projects are ① happy package business, ② elderly group home, ③ information education for the rural elderly, and ④ village side dish service.
A major policy task to activate the village welfare utilizing the competence of rural residents in the promotion of unique village welfare projects is utilizing village property funds.
Major policy tasks to activate the village welfare utilizing the competence of rural residents in the improvement of legal and institutional basis are ① construction of a national village welfare support system, ② activation of local social security councils, and ③ improvement of welfare hub business.


Researchers: Park Daeshik, An Sok, Oh Jeonghun
Research Period: 2016. 1. ～ 2016. 10.
E-mail address: pds8382@krei.re.kr