Post-Policy Trends and Qualitative Assessment of Gaya Archaeology - A Study of 2024 KCI-Indexed Publications

This study aims to comprehensively examine the research trends and qualitative changes in Gaya archaeology from 2018 to 2024, following the designation of “Gaya History Restoration” as a national agenda in 2017. An analysis of approximately 200 KCI-registered articles was conducted, focusing on publication trends by year, academic journals, authors' institutional affiliations, research topics, and keyword networks through both quantitative and qualitative methods. The results indicate that empirical studies on burial mounds, ironware, and pottery remain dominant, while more in-depth analyses have emerged regarding political systems, funerary rituals, weaponry, fortifications, and external exchange networks. Recent research also reflects an expansion toward sociocultural themes such as identity, confederate polities, habitation sites, and gender, alongside the gradual adoption of scientific techniques and digital humanities methods. However, limitations remain, including topic and regional bias, repetitive research approaches, and insufficient theoretical interpretations. Based on these findings, this study proposes future directions for Gaya archaeological research, emphasizing thematic diversification, balanced regional exploration, interdisciplinary integration, and methodological advancement. These efforts are expected to lay a theoretical foundation for a more comprehensive restoration of Gaya history and contribute to redefining Gaya's identity within the broader context of ancient East Asia.