Mapping the Trajectories of Sociology in Japan and Korea: A Comparative Analysis of JSR and KJS, First Issue to 2024

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the developmental trajectories of the Japan Sociological Society (JSS) and the Korean Sociological Association (KSA) from historical and thematic perspectives. To this end, this research analyzes the titles of articles published in each society's flagship journals—the Japanese Sociological Review (JSR) and the Korean Journal of Sociology (KJS)—from their inception through 2024. The findings reveal distinct organizational and historical differences: Japan has accumulated a tradition of locally grounded empirical research since the 1950s, whereas in Korea, the infrastructure for research on regional and social issues was only fully established after the 1980s. Thematically, the JSR has expanded its research scope from rural and community studies to urban issues and, more recently, to global issues. Meanwhile, the KJS has evolved from an early focus on family studies to reflect rapidly changing social structures, including labor, multiculturalism, and informatization. Although direct scholarly exchange between the two journals remains limited, accounting for approximately 0.7% of total publications, the necessity for comparative research is growing due to shared social challenges, such as demographic shifts and global crises. This study suggests the necessity for institutional support and the revitalization of English-language journals to transcend domestic-centered research and foster sustained intellectual collaboration and a broader comparative sociological perspective between the two nations.