Client Violence Against Social Workers at Homeless Assistance Organizations in South Korea

This study examined the essence of client violence that social workers encounter at homeless assistance organizations in South Korea. Based on 149 self-administered questionnaires in 29 homeless assistance organizations in Seoul metropolitan areas, the study verified that client violence against social workers was prevalent. More than 70% of respondents experienced physical violence from their clients; 78.5% reported emotional violence; 53% reported property damage. This study also found that client violence emerged differently according to gender and types of agencies in the field. The results suggested that effective prevention strategies against client violence should be encouraged to maintain valuable human resources and to create a safe workplace in the field of social work.