박사학위 논문 데이터 분석을 통해 본 한국어교육 연구의 변화와 전망

Changes and Prospects of Korean Language Education Research through an Analysis of Doctoral Dissertations.

This study employs TF-IDF analysis and topic modeling on the metadata from 515 doctoral dissertations in Korean language education (2000–2024) to examine academic trends, trace the field’s development, and propose directions for future research. The analysis shows substantial growth in both the quantity and quality of research, thereby consolidating its status as an independent academic discipline. The central focus of research has shifted over time: topics expanded from an initial emphasis on linguistic knowledge to encompass cultural education, curriculum design, and, more recently, emerging themes such as teacher professionalism and digital technology. This shift suggests a broadening of inquiry beyond internal linguistics, extending to complex factors such as the educational environment, policies, and instructors. The significance of this study lies in its data driven approach, which provides an objective overview of 24 years of research, demonstrates the academic maturation of the field, and outlines future research directions.