The Korea Times Modern Literature Translation Awards

Celebrating Korean Literature’s Historic Achievement

The Korea Times' Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards stand as a beacon of commitment to cultivating exceptional translators and sharing Korea’s brilliant literary tradition with the world.

Our mission goes beyond recognizing outstanding achievements. We now celebrate the pinnacle of literary recognition with Han Kang’s historic Nobel Prize in literature, marking the first time a Korean author has received this prestigious honor.

Building on this momentous achievement, we continue our mission to enhance global appreciation for Korean literature, nurturing exceptional figures, forging deeper literary connections, refining translation standards and supporting the next generation of literary voices

한국 문학의 역사적 쾌거를 기념하며

한국 문학의 세계화를 향한 열정과 사명의 상징인 코리아타임스의 한국현대문학번역상은 한국 문학의 찬란한 전통을 전 세계에 알리는 빛나는 등불이자 든든한 길잡이입니다.

코리아타임스는 오랫동안 탁월한 번역가를 발굴하고, 한국 문학의 아름다움과 깊이를 전 세계에 알리는 데 앞장서 왔습니다. 그리고 이제, 한강 작가의 노벨문학상 수상이라는 역사적인 성취를 함께 기념합니다. 이는 한국 작가가 처음으로 이 권위 있는 상을 수상한 쾌거이자, 한국 문학이 세계 문학의 중심에 우뚝 선 순간입니다.

이 역사적 성취를 계기로, 우리는 앞으로도 한국 문학의 세계화를 위해 더욱 정진하겠습니다. 뛰어난 번역가들을 발굴하고, 한국 문학과 세계 독자 간의 교감을 확대하며, 번역의 수준을 한층 더 높임으로써 다음 세대의 문학인들이 세계 무대에 설 수 있도록 든든한 디딤돌이 될 것입니다.

Celebrating Korean Literature’s

Historic Achievement

The Korea Times' Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards stand as a beacon of commitment to cultivating exceptional translators and sharing Korea’s brilliant literary tradition with the world.

Our mission goes beyond recognizing outstanding achievements. We now celebrate the pinnacle of literary recognition with Han Kang’s historic Nobel Prize in literature, marking the first time a Korean author has received this prestigious honor.

Building on this momentous achievement, we continue our mission to enhance global appreciation for Korean literature, nurturing exceptional figures, forging deeper literary connections, refining translation standards and supporting the next generation of literary voices.

한국 문학의 역사적 쾌거를 기념하며

한국 문학의 세계화를 향한 열정과 사명의 상징인 코리아타임스의 한국현대문학번역상은 한국 문학의 찬란한 전통을 전 세계에 알리는 빛나는 등불이자 든든한 길잡이입니다.

코리아타임스는 오랫동안 탁월한 번역가를 발굴하고, 한국 문학의 아름다움과 깊이를 전 세계에 알리는 데 앞장서 왔습니다. 그리고 이제, 한강 작가의 노벨문학상 수상이라는 역사적인 성취를 함께 기념합니다. 이는 한국 작가가 처음으로 이 권위 있는 상을 수상한 쾌거이자, 한국 문학이 세계 문학의 중심에 우뚝 선 순간입니다.

이 역사적 성취를 계기로, 우리는 앞으로도 한국 문학의 세계화를 위해 더욱 정진하겠습니다. 뛰어난 번역가들을 발굴하고, 한국 문학과 세계 독자 간의 교감을 확대하며, 번역의 수준을 한층 더 높임으로써 다음 세대의 문학인들이 세계 무대에 설 수 있도록 든든한 디딤돌이 될 것입니다.

Power of literary translation

Translation is not merely the transmutation of text from one language to another, but a new creation. Korea has long been home to a wealth of exquisite literary works and exceptional writers, and with Han Kang’s historic Nobel Prize win, Korean literature has achieved the highest global recognition.

Since 1970, The Korea Times has championed the global reach of Korean literature through the Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards. This initiative was conceived not only to translate and promote acclaimed literary works worldwide but also to cultivate adept literary translators. This pioneering cultural project aligned with Korea's journey toward advanced industrialization and the ushering in of a new era of internationalization across diverse fields.

Expanding Korean literature’s global presence

Fostering the global presence of Korean literature, the Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards have led to growth in both the quantity and quality of submissions. Many professional translators specializing in Korean literature have emerged through this initiative, helping bridge the gap between Korean authors and global readers. The Literature Translation Institute of Korea, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has also played a pivotal role in publishing and promoting outstanding translations endorsed by The Korea Times, further strengthening the international appreciation of Korean literature.

New era for Korean literature

The Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards continue to serve as a vital platform for nurturing translators and amplifying the presence of Korean literature on the global stage. Han Kang’s Nobel Prize marks not just an individual achievement but a milestone for Korean literature as a whole. As the sole initiative dedicated to the internationalization of contemporary Korean literature, these awards have played an instrumental role in elevating its global presence. With unwavering dedication to excellence, they continue to serve as a gateway for translators and a beacon for all who seek to bring Korean literary brilliance to a worldwide audience.

All global readers interested in translating Korean literature are encouraged to participate.

문학 번역의 힘, 그 창조의 예술

번역은 단순히 언어를 옮기는 작업이 아니라 새로운 창조입니다. 수많은 명작과 걸출한 작가들이 빛을 발해온 한국 문학은 이제 한강 작가의 노벨문학상 수상을 통해 그 가치를 전 세계에 입증했습니다.

1970년부터 코리아타임스는 한국현대문학번역상을 통해 한국 문학의 세계화를 선도해왔습니다. 이 상은 한국의 우수한 문학 작품들을 세계에 소개함과 동시에, 문학 번역가로서의 길을 걷고자 하는 이들에게 기회의 장을 제공해왔습니다. 이는 대한민국이 산업화와 국제화의 길을 걸으며, 문화적으로도 세계와 소통하기 위해 시작한 선구적인 프로젝트였습니다.

한국 문학, 세계로 뻗어가는 길

한국현대문학번역상은 한국 문학의 세계화를 이끌며 양적·질적 성장을 모두 이루어 냈습니다. 이 상을 통해 수많은 전문 번역가들이 배출되었으며, 그들의 탁월한 번역은 한국 작가와 전 세계 독자들 사이의 언어적·문화적 경계를 허물고 교감을 이어주고 있습니다.

특히, 문화체육관광부 산하 한국문학번역원의 지원으로 코리아타임스가 추천한 우수 번역작들이 해외에서 출간되며, 이를 통해 한국 문학은 더욱 폭넓은 독자층을 확보하며 국제적인 명성을 쌓아가고 있습니다.

한국 문학의 새로운 장을 열며

한국현대문학번역상은 한국 문학의 세계적 입지를 넓히고 뛰어난 번역가를 발굴하며 그 가치를 끊임없이 증명해온 중추적 플랫폼입니다. 한강 작가의 노벨문학상 수상은 단순한 개인의 성취를 넘어 한국 문학 전체가 세계 문학사에 새긴 영원한 이정표입니다.

이와 함께, 한국현대문학 번역상은 앞으로도 세계 독자들이 한국 문학의 감동을 느낄 수 있도록 중요한 가교 역할을 이어 나갈 것입니다.

한국 문학의 세계화를 목표로 한 유일한 시상제도인 현대한국문학 번역상은 그동안 한국 문학의 국제적 위상을 높이는 데 핵심적인 역할을 해왔습니다. 탁월함을 향한 변함없는 열정으로, 이 상은 앞으로도 번역가들에게는 세계로 나아가는 등용문이자, 한국 문학의 아름다움을 전 세계에 전하고자 하는 모든 이들에게 영감을 주는 등불이 될 것입니다.

전 세계에서 한국 문학 번역에 관심 있는 모든 분들의 도전을 기다립니다.

지금, 한국 문학의 새로운 장을 함께 열어보세요!

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Sora Kim-Russell is a translator based in Seoul. She got her start in literary translation in 2005 when she won the Grand Prize for poetry translation in The Korea Times’ Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, followed by the 2007 Literature Translation Institute (LTI) of Korea Translation Award for Aspiring Translators. She went on to translate novels by Shin Kyung-sook, Gong Ji-young and Bae Suah, among others, with a particular focus on the works of Pyun Hye-young and Hwang Sok-yong.

Her translation of Pyun Hye-young’s "The Hole" won the 2017 Shirley Jackson Award for best novel and her translations of Pyun’s short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine and Words Without Borders. Her translation and co-translation of Hwang Sok-yong’s "At Dusk" and "Mater 2-10" were longlisted for the 2019 and 2024 International Booker Prizes, respectively, and her translation of "The Plotters" for Kim Un-su was longlisted for the 2020 Dublin Literary Award after winning both the 2018 GKL Korean Literature Translation Award and the 2019 LTI Korea Translation Award.

Kim has taught literary translation at Ewha Womans University and LTI Korea, served as a prose mentor for the American Literary Translators Association and taught at the Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference. She also served as a judge for the 2018 Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize, 2021 Columbia Journal Spring Contest in Translation and 2023 PEN Translation Prize.

Krys Lee is an associate professor of creative writing and literature at Yonsei University’s Underwood International College, where she has taught for 12 years.

A writer and translator, she has translated two poems by Nobel laureate Han Kang and two novels by Kim Young-ha, one of Korea’s most widely read novelists. Her own works include the novel "How I Became a North Korean" (2016) and the short story collection "Drifting House" (2012).

She currently serves as a judge for the Daesan Foundation Literary Translation and Publication Grant and was a jury member for the Bucheon Diaspora Literary Award from 2022 to 2024.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in English literature from the University of York.

Janet Poole is a professor in the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto, where she teaches courses on Korean literary translation and modern Korea during the colonial period. She earned her doctoral degree in Korean literature from Columbia University in 2004, focusing on colonial-era fiction.

Poole won the 32nd Korea Times Modern Korean Literature Translation Award in 2001 for her translation of Yun Dae-nyong’s short story "The Walk of Light." In 2010, she received the LTI Korea’s Selected Translator Award for "Dust and Other Stories" by Yi Tae-jun (1904-60). She has also translated other works by Yi, a prolific short story writer whose works were banned in South Korea until 1988 due to his relocation to the North.

She currently serves on the editorial board of "Korean Studies," published by the Center for Korean Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

56th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards

The Korea Times is inviting translators from around the world to participate in the 56th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards.

Since 1970, The Korea Times has been dedicated to recognizing excellence in literary translation and promoting Korean literature to a global readership through this annual competition. Many of the leading translators and scholars working in the field today began their careers as winners of the Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, and The Korea Times looks forward to ushering in a new generation of skilled translators in the years to come.

The annual competition awards English translations of works of contemporary Korean literature in two categories: fiction/drama and poetry.

Submission Guidelines

Applicants may submit a translation of 1) a work of fiction or drama or 2) 10 poems by the same poet. Applicants should submit only one entry in either category.

Fiction/Drama

Candidates should submit an English translation of one work of fiction (a novel, novella or short story) or a play. The first publication date of the original Korean work should be 1980 or later. Longer works will not automatically be given preference, although some credit will be given for the additional effort involved. A translation of one portion of a long novel will be considered on the condition that it presents at least a third of the complete novel and the translator plans to translate the entire work.

Poetry

Candidates should submit English translations of 10 poems, all by the same poet. The original poems should have been first published in or after 1980.

General Rules

Translations should be sent before Aug. 31, 2025, as email attachments in PDF format to ktimes.translation@gmail.com with the subject “The Korea Times Translation Awards.”

The translator's name, telephone number, mailing address and email address must be given in the body of the email with their submission. However, their names and identifying information must not appear in any part of the text or file of the translation.

The Korean originals should be scanned and submitted as an attached PDF file along with the translations; if this is impossible for some reason, one hard copy must be mailed to the K-Culture Desk at The Korea Times by the same due date.

In both categories, the jury will be looking for accurate and persuasive translations that attempt to render in English the literary merit of significant works of contemporary literature.

Translations submitted must not have been published in any form before the deadline set for submissions. Works that have previously been published in English translation must not be translated again for the contest.

Candidates are not required to obtain the author's permission before translating and submitting the work for consideration. However, it is strongly advised that anyone intending to translate, especially a full-length work, should contact the author — through the publisher if necessary — before getting started, to ask whether permission could be granted or whether another translator is already working on it. Gaining permission is the responsibility of the translator and The Korea Times is not responsible for any legal disputes that may arise.

Previous winners of The Korea Times Modern Literature Translation Awards are not eligible to submit entries in the same category. Entries for this competition must not be submitted to any other translation contest in the same year.

Winners will be announced in The Korea Times in November.

The jury’s decision will be final and no correspondence concerning it will be entered into.

All copyrights in submissions and prize-winning works belong to the translators, but portions of the award-winning entries may be published in The Korea Times.

For inquiries: The Korea Times K-Culture Desk at 02-724-2353 or ktimes.translation@gmail.com.

Prizes

Grand prize in Fiction/Drama: 7 million won

Grand prize in Poetry: 4 million won

Commendation awards: 2 million won each to entries in either fiction/drama or poetry

Kevin O'Rourke Award: 1 million won to an entry in either fiction/drama or poetry

* The Korea Times Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards are sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KB Financial Group.

* One of the grand prize winners in either fiction/drama or poetry will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award. The Kevin O’Rourke Award is presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland in Korea to honor the late Kevin O’Rourke and his contribution as a distinguished translator of Korean literature.