Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

This study aims to present directions in advancing interdisciplinary studies on Buddhism and social work by critically reviewing 10 international and 12 Korean studies found via keyword search of “Buddhism/Buddhist” and “Social Work/ Welfare.” We performed the content analysis using the five analytic frameworks; the target problem, the Buddhist thought and practice, the target populations, research methods, and social work interventions. This review found out distinctive differences between domestic and overseas studies. Specifically, we found more conceptual studies in Korea, which attempted to understand how the Buddhist thought and practice could be applied in social work areas as an intervention. In contrast, overseas studies were more likely to empirically examine whether the Buddhist thought and practice function as a method of intervention with substantial samples. Although both Korean and international studies included diverse problems in the areas of social work, they could not explain systematic and concrete intervention processes and methods. Most of international studies performed empirical studies, but their evidence is still deficient. This research shows that the Buddhist thought and practice such as meditation could be one of alternative social work interventions in light of diverse empirical and theoretical trials. Based on these findings, we suggest that interdisciplinary studies on Buddhism and social work should be more encouraged in an empirical manner of qualitative and quantitative ways in order to guide evidence-based practice in Korean social work practice.