Records professionals' challenges and barriers in public institutions in Korea

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the work practices of records professionals are driven and influenced by national regulations and policies, especially when the public records management system is established over a short period of time. This study focused on the perceived work tasks and practices along with professional development opportunities among Korean records professionals who work in public institutions. Korean records professionals face unique challenges because public institutions in Korea hire records professionals not because of internal needs but because of the law that mandates hiring at least one records professional at each public institution; no records can be discarded without the permission of the records professional. Interviews were conducted to better understand records professionals' perceptions, challenges, and experiences on their own terms. The results reveal that records professionals who participated in this study practice in an isolated environment and are prone to develop narrow understandings of their profession. The majority were concerned about poor recognition of their role in serving their organization and the public. There was a great need for professional development to help them enhance their awareness of the breadth and diversity of their contributions to the public beyond their day-to-day functions. This article concludes by discussing possible solutions and strategies for improving work practices that provide insights and show the practical implications for records professionals' workplaces in other countries and beyond the Korean public organizational context.