Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the historical significance of the Psychologist Act bill introduced in April 2022 during the 21st National Assembly. By reviewing the social and policy contexts of its proposal and its core contents, this study discusses implications for future legislation. Despite South Korea’s lower-than-average life satisfaction among OECD member countries and its persistently high suicide rates, the country still lacks independent legislation defining “psychologists” who provide professional, psychology-based services, unlike most other countries. This study reviewed policy-related materials produced since 2019—prior to the bill’s introduction—including public hearings, policy forums, government-commissioned research reports, and statements from National Assembly audits, focusing primarily on the activities of the Korean Psychological Association. The proposed Psychologist Act can be understood as a convergence of policy demands and advocacy by professional groups into a legislative initiative. Furthermore, it holds significance as a policy choice to establish psychological services as a sustainable, systematic public service domain rather than a temporary or supplementary welfare measure. The non-enactment of the bill, which was introduced during the 21st National Assembly and the 50th presidential term of the Korean Psychological Association, indicates that several critical challenges remained in the legislative process. These include achieving social consensus on the scope of service interventions, refining standards for professional workforce management, and designing a system harmonized with existing credentialing frameworks. Future legislative discussions should seek strategic ways to address these challenges.