A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Research Trends in Korean Webtoons from 2018 to 2025
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Published
Nov 11, 2025
Abstract
In the digital era, Webtoons have gained remarkable popularity, especially among young people accustomed to online media. This growth supports their global expansion as digital consumption rises. People increasingly prefer online entertainment, making Webtoons widely accessible. This paper is a quantitative research and is intended to examine keyword networks to analyze Webtoon-related studies. Results show “Webtoon” as the most frequent keyword, linked to themes such as Korean wave, brands, transmedia storytelling, and comics globalization. These connections highlight Webtoons’ transformation from digital comics into a global creative industry, influencing marketing, animation, and digital regulation. Although less frequent, transmedia storytelling remains significant, positioning Webtoons within a cross-media ecosystem adapted into films and dramas. Ultimately, Webtoons emerge as both cultural phenomena and creative industry drivers.
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How to Cite
Cahyo, E. N., Darmanto, D., Muliawan , A. A. and Dewi , E. Z. P. (2025) “A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Research Trends in Korean Webtoons from 2018 to 2025”, Ranah Research : Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 8(1), pp. 512-521. doi: 10.38035/rrj.v8i1.1840.
References
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Noble, S. M., & Schewe, C. D. (2021). Membaca Komik Digital Sebagai Gaya Hidup Generasi (Studi Fenomenologi Terhadap Kegemaran Membaca Generasi Zdi Aplikasi Line Webtoon). Journal of Business Research.
Yuliani, Y., Ardianto, D., & Retnowati, R. (2022). Mapping Research on Multimedia Biology: A Bibliometric Analysis. International Journal of Biology Education Towards Sustainable Development. 2(1), 12-22. https://doi.org/10.53889/ijbetsd.v2i1.117.
Zagita, N. I., & Sukandar, R. (2021). Pandangan Masyarakat Indonesia Terhadap Budaya Korea Selatan: Studi Kasus Manhwa Noblesse pada Aplikasi Line Webtoon. COMMENTATE: Journal of Communication Management. 2(1), 78-93. https://doi.org/10.37535/103002120216.
Zhang, J., Quoquab, F., & Mohammad, J. (2024). Plastic and sustainability: a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research. 42(1), 44-67. https://doi.org/10.1108/AGJSR-10-2022-0225.
Zhou, Y., Sun, Y., Xu, Y., & Yuan, H. (2022). Study on Value-Based Design of Healthcare Facilities: Based on Review of the Literature in the USA and Japan. Frontiers in Public Health. 10, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.883241
Darmanto, D., Cahyo, E. N., Nengrum, Y. S., & Adefiannisa, F. J. (2025). Linguistic Diplomacy: The Role of Korean Language in Indonesia–South Korea Relations. Jurnal Multidisipliner Bharasumba, 4(03), 401-419. https://doi.org/10.62668/bharasumba.v4i03.1682
Darmanto, D., Dewi, E. Z. P., Muliawan, A. A., Hakim, L., Kristanto, N., Wulandari, R., ... & Nengrum, Y. S. (2025). Promoting Employment Opportunities in South Korea at SMK Telekomunikasi Brawijaya Blitar. Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Sabangka, 4(04), 444-454. https://doi.org/10.62668/sabangka.v4i04.1674
Faisal, D., Afriwan, H., Pramesti, U., & Ahdi, S. (2020). Visual Patterns in Webcomic the Beauty of Angel. Proceedings of the 1st Conference of Visual Art, Design, and Social Humanities by Faculty of Art and Design, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.2-11-2019.2294774.
Jang, W., & Song, J. E. (2017). Webtoon as a New Korean Wave in the Process of Glocalization. Kritika Kultura. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.13185/KK2017.02908.
Jin, D. Y. (2015). Digital Convergence of Korea’s Webtoons: Transmedia Storytelling. Communication Research and Practice. 1(3), 193-209. https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2015.1079150.
Jin, D. Y. (2019). Transmedia Storytelling in the Age of Digital Media: East Asian Perspectives: Introduction. International Journal of Communication. 13, 2085–2093. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:195580404.
Kirby, A. (2023). Exploratory Bibliometrics: Using VOSviewer as a Preliminary Research Tool. Publications. 11(1), 10-24. https://doi.org/10.3390/publications11010010.
Lent, J. A. (2022). South Korean Manhwa’s Long and Strong Association with Transnationalism. In Transnationalism in East and Southeast Asian Comics Art. 93-116. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95243-3_5.
Lynn, H. G. (2023). Korean Webtoon and Identity Politics in the Digital Age. In Introducing Korean Popular Culture. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003292593-19.
Man, H. (2023). Understanding Korean Webtoon Culture: Transmedia Storytelling, Digital Platforms, and Genres by Dal Yong Jin (review). Seoul Journal of Korean Studies. 97(2), 230. https://doi.org/10.1353/seo.2023.a916940.
Maulidita, S. Z., Darmanto, D., & Nilma, W. L. (2024). Exploring the Role of Media in Remote Acculturation of the Korean Wave in Indonesia. Asia-pacific Journal of Convergent Research Interchange (APJCRI), 10(2), 449-459. http://doi.org/10.47116/apjcri.2024.02.35.
Maulidita, S. Z., & Darmanto, D. (2024). Indonesia’s Opportunities and Challenges in IK-CEPA: Bilateral Free Trade Agreement with South Korea. Insignia: Journal of International Relations, 11(1), 19-35. https://doi.org/10.20884/1.ins.2024.11.1.9926
Muliawan, A. A., Darmanto, D., Hakim, L., Dewi, E. Z. P., & Cahyo, E. N. (2025). Signs Beyond: A Semiotic Reading of Transcendence in “Stuck in the Middle” by Babymonster. Jurnal Multidisipliner Bharasumba, 4(03), 303-323. https://doi.org/10.62668/bharasumba.v4i03.1673
Nandiyanto, A. B. D., & Al Husaeni, D. F. (2021). A bibliometric Analysis of Materials Research in Indonesian journal using VOSviewer. Journal of Engineering Research. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.36909/jer.ASSEEE.16037.
Noble, S. M., & Schewe, C. D. (2021). Membaca Komik Digital Sebagai Gaya Hidup Generasi (Studi Fenomenologi Terhadap Kegemaran Membaca Generasi Zdi Aplikasi Line Webtoon). Journal of Business Research.
Yuliani, Y., Ardianto, D., & Retnowati, R. (2022). Mapping Research on Multimedia Biology: A Bibliometric Analysis. International Journal of Biology Education Towards Sustainable Development. 2(1), 12-22. https://doi.org/10.53889/ijbetsd.v2i1.117.
Zagita, N. I., & Sukandar, R. (2021). Pandangan Masyarakat Indonesia Terhadap Budaya Korea Selatan: Studi Kasus Manhwa Noblesse pada Aplikasi Line Webtoon. COMMENTATE: Journal of Communication Management. 2(1), 78-93. https://doi.org/10.37535/103002120216.
Zhang, J., Quoquab, F., & Mohammad, J. (2024). Plastic and sustainability: a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research. 42(1), 44-67. https://doi.org/10.1108/AGJSR-10-2022-0225.
Zhou, Y., Sun, Y., Xu, Y., & Yuan, H. (2022). Study on Value-Based Design of Healthcare Facilities: Based on Review of the Literature in the USA and Japan. Frontiers in Public Health. 10, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.883241