Trends in Research on Illegal Gambling in Korea: Analysis of KCI Database from 2015 to 2024

This study conducted a content analysis of 108 academic articles on illegal gambling published in journals listed in the Korea Citation Index (KCI), a national citation database maintained by the National Research Foundation of Korea, between 2015 and 2024.The analysis focused on trends in publication year, academic discipline, research method, research topic, and target group.In particular, the study examined changes in research methods, topics, and target groups by categorizing the timeline into the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods of COVID-19.The analysis revealed a steady increase in the volume of research on illegal gambling, with a notable rise in studies on 'psychology and addiction', as well as those focusing on youth, after the COVID-19 pandemic.Furthermore, the findings suggest that recent research has actively incorporated emerging social and technological trends, such as the growth of digital and platform-based illegal gambling and the increasing vulnerability of youth to gambling exposure.Despite this progress, limitations remain, including a concentration of research on specific topics and groups, and a relative lack of interdisciplinary and mixed-methods approaches.Based on these findings, the study suggests directions for future research and policy development, including promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, conducting in-depth analyses of youth gambling, and expanding research into online illegal gambling.