ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

This study conducts a network analysis of 112 Korean science fiction (SF) literary research papers published between 2000 and 2024 to empirically examine the structure and transformation of SF research discourse in Korea. By visualizing the connection, centrality, and clustering of key research keywords that emerged in specific historical and cultural contexts, network analysis serves as an effective methodology for structurally mapping the field. The study categorizes Korean SF literary research into five thematic types: “Human and Machine,” “Utopia and Dystopia,” “Gender and Feminism,” “Climate Crisis and Ecology,” and “Discrimination and Disgust.” It analyzes their emergence, frequency, and the interrelation of keywords over time. Findings reveal that Types 1 and 2 have been consistently studied since the early 2000s, with a significant increase in volume after 2020. Research in Types 3 and 5 has become notably active around 2020, reflecting sociocultural shifts, while Type 4 has seen a rapid expansion beginning in 2022, suggesting strong potential for future research. Rather than merely summarizing prior studies, this research employs a quantitative approach to illuminate the discursive connectivity, generic experimentation, and sociocultural responsiveness inherent in Korean SF. Ultimately, it offers a multidimensional understanding of how Korean SF literature has evolved in dialogue with contemporary society.

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