The objective of this study was to find the primary function of ‘previous research use’ within Korean academic texts, to utilize as the fundamental reference material for guiding academic-purpose writing. Academic writing is a writing with a broadened definition of ‘source use’ as a prerequisite. Moreover, ‘previous research’ is the source applied by the writer of the academic text from the onset to the end-point to construct a more abundant and solid argument. Although interest toward the education of academic writing for international students undergoing the master’s and doctorate program has increased, the discussion of a constructive guidance concerning the ‘previous research use’ remains inadequate. This study confirmed the necessity to first review concepts and values of previous data and concentrate on the non-fixed characteristic of previous research placement within an academic text through existing research outcomes. Furthermore, the contemplation of the primary function of previous research use became imperative alike the importance of considering the technical strategies involved in the academic writing process. The examined six primary functions of previous research use within this study were ‘identification of primary(key) results’, ‘problem proposal and emphasis on the necessity of research’, ‘categorization of results and comprehension of direction’, ‘the re-application of methodology and subjectivity’, ‘the review(examination) of principal concepts perspective analysis’, and ‘the evidence provision and result analysis’. Since this study examines each function with its basis on actual examples of academic texts, the enclosed data will be able to usefully applied during the guidance of academic writing. Results from previous research is inarguably an important data to permit the academic text to be more academic. However, it is not advisable to rely entirely on previous research and the writer of scholarly text should be aware of how to apply strategically and effectively, the previous research to one’s writing, in accordance with one’s research objective and characteristic. This implies research, seeking a more constructive content and strategies on ‘previous research use’ in regards to the academic writing guidance, must also be pursued.