Paradigm Shift for the 21st Century of Knowledge Information Era and Measures for Activating Agricultural Extension Services

Agricultural extension services in Korea are faced with increasing demands for more efficient production and managerial technology according to globalization and free trade system. At the same time, three steps of organizational restructuring in 1998 and 1999 resulted in decreased number of organization and manpower, thus, resulting confusion in implementing extension services. To cope with the international and national challenges, Korean agricultural extension services should try paradigm shift including the followings; 1. To establish identity of agricultural extension services in Korea through making laws and regulations in terms of concept, roles, principles. implementation and methods. 2. To implement vitalizations plan through enhancement of national extension service such as food production. raising local specialty products for domestic consumption and producing strategic agricultural products for export. expanding capability of rural women, increasing opportunity for management consultation, supporting digital technology information, and promoting morale and capability of extension educators. 3. To reform agricultural extension system through adjusting the functions of extension service of the Rural Development Administration, regionalizing city and county extension center to provincial level, and changing the status of directors of extension centers from city /county to national government.