Workplace Learning Research in Korea: A Bibliometric Analysis and Topic Modeling Approach

The purpose of this study is to examine research trends and main issues concerning workplace learning (WL) research in Korea, thereby providing implications for both research and practice in related fields such as lifelong education and human resource development. We collected KCI-indexed scholarly articles published between 2000 and 2024, analyzing a total of 184 papers. Bibliometric analysis and topic modeling techniques were employed to explore the structural relationships among research themes and to identify specific subtopics. The findings indicate that the number of WL-related articles has increased significantly since the early 2010s. Through frequency analysis of authors, sources, and keywords, we revealed that WL research has predominantly focused on the practical aspects of workers’ additional learning and human resource development, expanding in conjunction with key rationales and principles from adult learning. According to the keyword co-occurrence network analysis, we discerned three thematic clusters Furthermore, six subtopics were identified through topic modeling. A time-series analysis of identified subtopics revealed hot and cold topics, representing areas of emerging research interest or those showing a decline in focus, respectively. Based on the findings, we suggested future directions for the practical application of WL concepts across diverse contexts, along with recommendations for expanding academic discourse in the field.