Purpose: This descriptive study was conducted in order to investigate the research trends of past nursing studies related to disasters in Korea, and to identify the direction of future research. Methods: Fifty studies conducted from July 1995 to June 2014 were analyzed according to general characteristics, disaster phase, disaster type, and research theme based on the four areas and 10 domains of the ICN Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies. Results: The majority of studies were designed using quantitative methods (29). In disaster type, 12 studies explored natural disasters, and 14 explored manmade disasters. Disaster responders were the subject of 31 studies. In relation to research topics, the majority of studies were in the area of preparedness competencies of the ICN Framework (26). The studies were concentrated in the domain of education and preparedness (24). Conclusion: The total number of studies on disasters had increased over the years, while the topics failed to deal with all domains of the ICN Framework. The results indicate that the future direction of nursing research on disasters is to be vitalized through the flexibility of research design, systematic approach based on global perspectives, research on emergency responders and vulnerable people, and research relating to community-based disaster nursing.