New york: The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC)'s recognition of Han Kang's "We Do Not Part" underscores the expanding influence of Korean literature on the global stage. Yet, the spotlight remains firmly on the crucial role of translation in this success.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Nobel laureate's NBCC win marks a historic moment as it is the first time a translated work has received the prize in fiction. This follows poet Kim Hye-soon's achievement last year when she became the first Korean to win the same award in poetry for the English translation of her collection "Phantom Pain Wings."
In the Korean literary community, there is a growing call for increased government investment in translation quality and fairer treatment of translators, especially given the limited number of Korean speakers globally. Han Kang, in her acceptance speech on Thursday night in New York, expressed her gratitude to her translators, emphasizing the essential connection they foster between her original Korean text and its English rendition.
"I am so honored. Thank you to the two translators, e. yaewon and Paige Morris. I appreciate the incredible connection you have made for this book, from my mother tongue, Korean to English," said the speech delivered by David Ebershoff on behalf of the absent Korean author.
This theme of translation's importance is not new for Han. In November 2024, upon receiving the Nobel Prize in literature, she reiterated the collaborative nature of her work with translators. Her international breakthrough came in 2016 with the International Booker Prize for "Vegetarian," shared with translator Deborah Smith.
Since then, Korean authors have continued to rise on the global literary stage. Chung Bora's "Cursed Bunny" was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2022, followed by Cheon Myeong-kwan's "Whale" in 2023, and Hwang Sok-yong's "Mater 2-10" in the subsequent year. Chung also gained recognition for the Philip K. Dick Award in 2023.
The Literature Translation Institute (LTI) of Korea, founded in 1996, has been instrumental in nurturing translators. According to the LTI, overseas sales of Korean books, supported by its translation initiatives, reached 1.2 million copies last year, a significant increase from previous years. The number of Korean books translated by the LTI hit a record 194 last year.
"Han's win reflects how her profound literary depth was seamlessly carried over through high-quality translation," said LTI President Chon Soo-young. She emphasized the institute's commitment to supporting Korean literature's global reach.
Former LTI President Kwak Hyo-hwan highlighted the need for a broader consensus on improving translators' treatment, warning of a potential shortage of experienced translators. "One of the biggest challenges facing Korean literature translation is that there aren't that many reliable translators," he noted, warning against spreading translators too thinly across numerous projects.