[영문]This paper discusses trends in social work in the last twenty-five years. Within the broad theme of social work as a social institution, more detailed attention is focused on: services for children and elderly people; manageralism; and social work research and evaluation. Processes of secularization, professionalism and manageralism have weakened the impetus for social reform. This has sharpened dilemmas for social work in balancing benefits for service users and public involvement with tight state control and regulation.