ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to analyze Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) service support systems from a comparative policy perspective and to identify structural gaps and future priorities for institutionalization in South Korea. Using a comparative policy framework based on five dimensions, namely legal foundations, financing mechanisms, service coverage and intensity, workforce qualifications, and service delivery and quality management, we compared South Korea with the United States, Ontario (Canada), Australia, and Norway. Cases were selected through maximum variation sampling along two axes, financing mechanisms and workforce regulation mechanisms, with June 30, 2026, as the reference date. The analysis proceeded in three stages: constructing institutional profiles for each case across the five dimensions, conducting cross-case comparisons for each dimension, and contrasting the international cases with South Korea. The findings showed that, despite differences in financing and regulatory arrangements, cases with more institutionalized ABA service support systems exhibited linkages among legal foundations, financing, workforce regulation, and service delivery. In addition, the cases examined adopted diverse pathways for workforce institutionalization, including licensure, statutory professional regulation, funding eligibility requirements, and integration into existing professional and higher education systems. In contrast, although South Korea has established partial institutional foundations, including developmental rehabilitation services, behavioral development centers, graduate training programs, and private certifications, these components remain fragmented and insufficiently integrated into a coherent public service system. The study suggests that institutionalizing ABA in South Korea requires standardizing service activities, developing training and supervision systems, accumulating cost and outcome data, and strengthening the integration of financing and quality management. The experiences of occupational therapy and speech-language pathology further indicate that professional qualifications alone are insufficient and must be linked to service definitions, reimbursement systems, institutional standards, and workforce development.

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