earticle

영어

With the rapid global growth of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, EVs have emerged as a key driver of paradigm shifts in the automotive sector and the restructuring of energy systems. As a strategic industry critical to climate change mitigation and low-carbon development, the EV sector has received extensive policy support and has been the subject of active scholarly research worldwide. In South Korea, research on EVs has expanded rapidly over the past two decades; however, existing studies have largely focused on isolated topics, limiting a comprehensive understanding of the overall research trends. To address this gap, the present study systematically analyzed the thematic trends and knowledge structure of domestic EV research over the past 25 years by employing topic modeling and linguistic network analysis. Topic modeling was applied to probabilistically identify latent research themes, while linguistic network analysis visualized the relationships among key terms, providing a holistic perspective on the research landscape. The results indicate that Korean EV research has been predominantly concentrated on technological advancement, including batteries, vehicle technologies, and charging infrastructure. In contrast, themes related to social impact, policy, and sustainability were comparatively underrepresented. This finding suggests a strong technological bias in existing research and highlights the need for more integrated approaches that encompass socio-environmental implications and policy responses. By mapping the structure and identifying limitations of domestic EV research, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the research field and offers guidance for future academic and policy-oriented investigations. It underscores the importance of expanding research beyond technological dimensions to support sustainable industrial development and informed policymaking.