This paper focuses on the domestic illumination research trends in 2012 based on reviewing the published papers in the Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers. It classifies and resumes the papers in five themes including exterior lighting, interior lighting, LED/OLED, optical device and optical fiber, and lighting industry. By comparatively studying a large number of papers published in Japan, North America, and China in the same year, the international illumination research trends are also figured out and further academic research topics are suggested.