Volunteer Opportunities - Seoul    

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Volunteering in Korea is possible through a number of different organisations:

CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS: Many of the clubs and associations offer opportunities to volunteer in a number of different ways. Click here for a list of associations and clubs.
1. Board and Committee Members: most organisations look for people to sit on committees or to be on their board of directors. Membership in the organisation is required.
2. Community Service: some of the organisations offer opportunities for community service either within the organisation or by providing information on volunteer opportunities outside the organisation. Generally membership in the organisation is required.

ANIMAL SHELTER VOLUNTEERS are needed to play with abandoned pets in shelters. There's a group that goes every weekend to a shelter near Seoul. For more information, see this article. To volunteer to join a weekend group, contact one of the following:  tim.vasudeva@gmail.com,  goesslry@gmail.com,  ansauvage@yahoo.ca. Some local cat shelters also need volunteers. FOSTER HOME FOR DOGS and CATS: You can also help out by fostering a dog or cat until a permanent home can be found for it. 

BEAN is an active networking, volunteering and social group for young professionals in Seoul. BEAN seeks to connect busy people, both Korean and expat, with professional backgrounds through Leadership, Friendship, and Service.  We have regular visits to orphanages to play with children and teach them English, as well as other monthly volunteer and social events. Contact: jurica@gmail.com

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY in Korea builds home for low income families or families who have lost their home as a result of a natural disaster both in South Korea and abroad. There are apparently Habitat for Humanity affiliates in different parts of the country. You can e-mail Habitat for Humanity Korea at habitat@habitat.or.kr.

GLOBAL VILLAGE VOLUNTEERS offers opportunities for a number of different volunteer activities through the Itaewon-Hannam Global Village Center such as helping with craft projects at a center for the disabled, teaching English for less-fortunate children, and an exercise / food service activity at a center for the homeless. For more information click on the Global Village Volunteers (above) or write to pthussey@citizen.seoul.kr.

HOUSE OF SHARING - International Outreach Team organises and conducts tours, in English, to the House of Sharing, a home for the survivors of the Japanese military's 'Comfort Women' sexual slavery camps. The tours are held on alternating Saturdays and Sundays once or twice a month. To get involved with the group, you should first come as a visitor to the House during one of the tours. To reserve your space on the tour, e-mail sharinghouse@gmail.com. (K4E has the schedule of House of Sharing tours in What's Going On). After experiencing the tour, you can apply to be a volunteer. Requirements include a long-term commitments, free weekend days once a month, and some background knowledge of the history of the issue. To be a tour guide, Korean is not necessary but is a plus. Translators for the Halmoni's personal testimony are also always helpful. The group is currently in the process of producing materials for a free history curriculum for international use and volunteers interested in research, transcription, and translation work are needed. 

KOEM - The Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation is dedicated to managing and improving the marine environment in South Korea through efficient prevention of pollution caused by spilled oil and other pollutants as well as educational activities. They are looking for both Korean and foreign residents to volunteer with them. Each year, the KOEM organises a number of events to mark World Wetlands Day on 2 February. For more information or to volunteer, contact koem.cepa@koem.or.kr.  

Korean Mountain Preservation League is committed to work as a non-governmental, non-profit organization to help preserve Korea’s highlands. Through campaigns, collaboration with other NGOs, and education and practice of the minimal impact code, it is our goal to ensure the natural integrity of Korea’s mountains, their ecology, their cultural heritage, and their remarkable splendour. If you have any inquiries, comments, complaints, suggestions, or wish to receive more information on how you can join the KMPL, volunteer, or help the group in any other way, please contact volunteer@kmpl.org.

METEOR YOUTH VOLUNTARY CLUB - METEOR FRIENDS is a student organisation, managed and created by students, and also a member of the Seoul Youth Center for Cultural Exchanges. METEOR university students will help guide foreign visitors/residents around Seoul at no charge, while high school students teach English to children from low-income families. The group also organises various monthly voluntary activities or events in which both Foreign and Korean nationals can participate. METEOR FRIENDS is a new category of members created in (July) 2010 for foreign nationals who wish to be members of the Meteor Youth Voluntary Club. Tel: 02-919-6606 and ask for LEE Jeong Min. Email: dgdk09@gmail.com. Website has English information. You can post your tour or member application on the website. However, if you don't want the application to be on public view, send it to meteorteens@gmail.com.

MRS - Medical Referral Service is a 24-hour informaiton service staffed by expat volunteers who have a medical background. The MRS team regularly visits medical facilities and provide information on health care options to members of the foreign community. To volunteer, call 010-4769-8212 (this is one of the emergency numbers) during business hours or contact the Seoul Global Center.

PSCORE (People for Successful Corean Reunification) is a non-profit, non-religious, non-partisan NGO in Seoul working for the reunification of the Korean peninsula. PSCORE is comprised of young North Korean defectors who are now attending college in South Korea, Native South Korean college students, and
foreigners who share a common interest and passion for reunification of the Korean peninsula, North Korean human rights issues, and are in favor of North Korean defectors to become self-supporting. For tutoring and other volunteer opportunities, click on Pscore above for a direct link to their website or contact them directly at pscore@pscore.org. More information can also be found here.

PLUR stands for Peace, Love, Unity, & Respect. Members volunteer with local communities, NGO's, and other aid associations throughout the world dealing with social issues such as poverty, street children, sick, elderly, etc. Many of the members are "pretty much young adults that just want to spend our time and talents to help people." The group in Korea volunteers with soup kitchens, orphanages, etc. The contact person is oh_daniel21@hotmail.com.  The group is listed on Facebook as: Volunteer for PLUR!
Volunteers usually meet inside Sookmyung Women's University Station. Blue line #4, stop 427, between exit 1 and the ticket counter on Fridays (usually 6PM and Sundays (usually 7PM).

SEOUL VOLUNTEER CENTER has begun  a program for foreign volunteers (launched August 2009), that allows for partnering with a Korean volunteer where language may be an issue. Activities include helping the elderly with errands or odds-and-ends around the house, visiting orphanages to play with the children and teach English, or organizing environmental cleanups around the city, etc.. The Seoul Volunteer Center has smaller branch offices in each of the 25 administrative districts of the city. When you click on the website, scroll down to the "Foreigners' box and fill out the volunteer application form.

UNESCO Cross Cultural Awareness Program (CCAP) offers foreign residents the opportunity to share their culture with Korean youths. They are typically asked to visit schools and present their own culture to the Korean students in collaboration with a Korean volunteer. Anyone, regardless of age, sex, religion or country of origin, can participate in the programme. Tel:  (02) 755-4623, Email: ccap@unesco.or.kr,  

WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS KOREA helps connect volunteers to various women's organisations in Korea - teaching English, editing, etc. Volunteers should speak English and if possible a little Korean. Tagalog speakers are also needed. The group organises the Wild Women Performing Arts Festival, which is held twice a year, to raise funds for Korean Women's Associations United. For information, contact angelahime@hotmail.com or angela.firefly@gmail.com.


ENGLISH TEACHING: scroll down for the page listing English teaching volunteer opportunities.



K4E Note: If you know of other volunteering options in Seoul and elsewhere in Korea, please let us know through info@korea4expats.com

See also Advocacy Groups