This study aimed to identify international trends in literacy research by conducting a keyword-based content analysis of research titles that were presented at the annual conferences of the Literacy Research Association (LRA) during the last three years (2016-2018). The findings are as follow. First, it was found that recent LRA conferences heavily emphasized critical literacy. They mainly focused on studies of the literacy practices of black people, multilingual speakers, and marginalized students using a variety of critical literacy approaches. Second, the conferences covered more writing research than reading research. For example, a great deal of attention was given to writing education for preservice and in-service teachers, teaching and learning writing in K-12 contexts, and students’ writing practices in- and out-of-school. Finally, recent LRA conferences highlighted how literacy could resolve conflicts between various racial, gender, and ethnic groups with different languages and cultures while promoting the prosperity of the community and social transformation. The findings of this study have important implications for literacy research in Korea. First, it is necessary to shift the focus of literacy research and education in Korea from functional literacy to critical literacy. Second, researchers need to focus on diversity issues as well as excellence related to literacy education in Korea. Last but not least, educators, researchers, and policy makers should make every endeavor to promote writing education.