This study examines the flow and trend of program research related to empathy and seeks future directions and tasks. To this end, a total of 87 papers published in domestic journals (KCI-listed) for 10 years from 2012 to 2021 were analyzed under the keywords ‘sympathy’ and ‘program’, and the main results are as follows. First, it can be seen that only one paper was presented in 2021, single-digit papers were published until 2017, and then From 2018, the number of publication increased to double-digit papers. Second, by publisher, education-related papers were the largest, followed by counseling and treatment-related, youth-related, humanities and social science-related, nursing-related and arts. Third, the majority of the study subjects were adults, followed by adolescents, children, and infants. Fourth, as for the research methods, quantitative research accounted for most, and qualitative research showed seven articles. Fifth, as for the purpose of the study, effect studies were the majority, followed by program development studies, change process studies in order, a study on the meaning. Sixth, as for the key words, education was the most common keyword, followed by interpersonal relationships, psychology and emotion, and self. Recently, the key words such as caring, cultural competency, and human rights sensitivity have been derived. Seventh, as for the measurement tools, on the Interpersonal scale, on the empathy scale, on the pathology scale, and on the ego scale were in the order. Eighth, empathy education program was the most, followed by counseling and treatment programs. Based on these results, implications for empathy program research and suggestions for follow-up studies, and limitations of this study were presented.