Domestic Research Trends on the Utilization of the Metaverse Museums

This study focuses on the changes in content of museums and art galleries following the social distancing measures due to COVID-19, analyzing the trends of domestic research on the utilization of metaverse museums. To achieve this, 25 KCI-indexed papers published in domestic academic journals were selected for analysis, and a total of five analytical categories were presented. Specifically, these categories include the publication status by year, academic fields, the status of museum functions, research topics, and research methods. Due to the absence of prior research on trends in metaverse museums, this study utilized the methodology from Yei-beech Jang (2022) on “Domestic Research Trend of Artificial Intelligence Art and Creation” Results showed that first, research on domestic metaverse museums has been activated after the pandemic, and as of 2023, it has entered a new phase in terms of research topics and methodologies, such as audience perception surveys. Second, research on metaverse museums allows for a multidisciplinary approach that integrates various fields, including humanities, arts and sports studies, social sciences, and engineering. Third, considering the emergence of new technologies like the metaverse, there is a need for methodological enhancements that can encompass significant data beyond KCI indexing. This study is significant in that it comprehensively analyzes the trends of metaverse utilization in domestic museums, proposing directions for future research.