Topic Modelling: Comprehensive Analysis of Sport Climibing Research Trends in Korea from 2000 to 2024

Sport climbing, which began from mountaineering, has a brief history compared to traditional sports. It became an official event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games and debuted at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Its inclusion in the upcoming Paris Olympics highlights its growing popularity. Examining research trends in South Korea is crucial for understanding the field’s past and future directions. This study analyses 53 sport climbing-related research papers from South Korea, spanning from 2000 to 2024, using LDA topic modeling. Four key topics emerged from the analysis: (1) Physiological and performance factors in sports climbing: health, recovery, and exercise impacts; (2) Technological advancements and psychological factors in sports climbing: game design, movement, and learning; (3) Service quality and customer satisfaction in indoor sports climbing facilities: safety, facility design, and consumer behaviour; and (4) Physical dynamics in sports climbing: sensation seeking, muscle activity, and functional design. With the exception of topic 3, the share of each topic increased over time. Importantly, the social science studies on sport climbing showed a significant lack compared to those in the natural sciences. This article provides valuable insights into the thematic evolution of sport climbing research in South Korea, offering guidance for future research directions.