The purpose of the study is to explore the possibility of connection between
lifelong education and volunteer activity to foster social capital by participants of
lifelong education. Lifelong education in Korea mainly focused on personal life
rather than social interaction and participation in social activities. This study
compared the awareness of volunteer activities between participants of
volunteering and non-participants. Results from the study are as follows. First,
non-participants have recognized more obstacles of inner and outer reasons
rather than participants. Second, non-participants have more concerned about the
costs that would spend during volunteering. Third, differences of motivation in
volunteering depended on socio-economic status. Fourth, participants and
non-participants showed different expectation of volunteering from the
perspective of socio-economic status.
The study suggests that learners in lifelong education could be volunteers
when supporting system provided based on community centers. Also competence
of staff and new direction of roles of community centers and the related
administration are required.