Mapping the Landscape of Medical AI Research in Korea Using Topic Modeling

<b>Background</b>/<b>Objectives</b>: This study analyzed ten years of domestic research on medical artificial intelligence (AI) from 2015 to 2024 using topic modeling and keyword network analysis. Chronological comparison showed that the research emphasis evolved through three stages-Introduction (2015-2018), Expansion (2019-2022), and Post-ChatGPT (2023-2024)-reflecting the growing incorporation of AI into clinical and service domains. <b>Methods</b>: We collected a curated set of 686 papers from the Korea Citation Index (KCI). After preprocessing-stopword removal, synonym unification, and lemmatization-7489 unique terms were extracted for the analysis. <b>Results</b>: Topic modeling identified three dominant themes: Diagnostic Imaging and Algorithm Validation, Healthcare Service and System Integration, and Patient-Centered Prediction and Disease Modeling. Keyword network analysis further revealed a structural shift from algorithm-oriented studies to system-level and patient-focused applications. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings indicate that Korean medical AI research is maturing toward a more interpretable, integrated, and human-centered paradigm, underscoring the need for explainable AI (XAI), multidisciplinary collaboration, and governance frameworks for safe and ethical deployment.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Healthcare
Published
2026-02-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14040549
Primary Topic
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Mapping the Landscape of Medical AI Research in Korea Using Topic Modeling

Y. Lee, HeeJang Yun
Healthcare
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
article

Mapping the Landscape of Medical AI Research in Korea Using Topic Modeling

Y. Lee, HeeJang Yun
article en

Abstract

<b>Background</b>/<b>Objectives</b>: This study analyzed ten years of domestic research on medical artificial intelligence (AI) from 2015 to 2024 using topic modeling and keyword network analysis. Chronological comparison showed that the research emphasis evolved through three stages-Introduction (2015-2018), Expansion (2019-2022), and Post-ChatGPT (2023-2024)-reflecting the growing incorporation of AI into clinical and service domains. <b>Methods</b>: We collected a curated set of 686 papers from the Korea Citation Index (KCI). After preprocessing-stopword removal, synonym unification, and lemmatization-7489 unique terms were extracted for the analysis. <b>Results</b>: Topic modeling identified three dominant themes: Diagnostic Imaging and Algorithm Validation, Healthcare Service and System Integration, and Patient-Centered Prediction and Disease Modeling. Keyword network analysis further revealed a structural shift from algorithm-oriented studies to system-level and patient-focused applications. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings indicate that Korean medical AI research is maturing toward a more interpretable, integrated, and human-centered paradigm, underscoring the need for explainable AI (XAI), multidisciplinary collaboration, and governance frameworks for safe and ethical deployment.

HealthcareVol. 14(4)
Bucheon University (KR), Woosong University (KR)
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 48%
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.