Status and Development of The Korea Journal of Sports Science and Its Leap Toward AI : A 10-Year (2016-2025) Bibliometric Analysis of 5,299 Articles

This study examines long-term structural reconfigurations in sport science research through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 5,299 articles published in The Korea Journal of Sports Science from 2016 to 2025. Drawing on full-population data from the Korea Citation Index, it analyzes publication trajectories, institutional concentration, authorship patterns, impact factor progression, citation structures, keyword evolution, and highly cited and viewed articles. The findings indicate a gradual decline in annual publication volume alongside a steady increase in impact factor. Institutional output remains concentrated within a limited group of universities, while patterns of single and collaborative authorship exhibit relative stability with minor fluctuations. Citation and keyword analyses reveal a relative rebalancing of research themes—from performance-centered topics toward psychological and industry-oriented domains—along with a limited but gradually increasing presence of data-driven and AI-related approaches. Rather than signaling an abrupt paradigm transformation, the results suggest a multidimensional recalibration of research composition and influence structures. Overall, the study provides empirical evidence of long-term structural adjustment in Korean sport science and establishes a foundation for subsequent network-based and comparative bibliometric research.