Yet more discussion of Korean literature abroad, in The Korea Times (hey, I'm not complaining -- I just wish other countries (and their media outlets, even if only the English-language ones) were similarly obsessed), as Kim Young-jin hosts a roundtable with Korean literature: in translation-man Charles Montgomery, noted translator-from-the-Korean Brother Anthony of Taize, and translator and teacher Jung Ha-yun, Korean literature sees opening for growth.
I worry a bit about the focus on success-in-English -- an international break-through will take success elsewhere too (though for example the French already seem to be ahead of the US/UK, at least as far as popular reach goes -- see e.g. the Philippe Picquier offerings) -- and don't see, for example, the Japanese break-through dating to the 1970s (as with most foreign literatures, it's a matter of waves, and there had been considerable Japanese success long before then, too) -- and of course I'm horrified by the idea (Brother Anthony's) that Park Kyung-ni's The Land "would have to be totally rewritten" to make it abroad. And, of course, the Nobel obsession is just plain silly (as they seem to realize -- and yet still have to address).
Nevertheless, quite a few interesting things do crop up.
(One thing I'm curious about: what's the deal with Korean mysteries/thrillers ? That's been a route for many foreign literatures -- not least Japanese -- to establish a firm, low-level foothold in translation, but seems to be completely off the radar regarding Korean works.)
I worry a bit about the focus on success-in-English -- an international break-through will take success elsewhere too (though for example the French already seem to be ahead of the US/UK, at least as far as popular reach goes -- see e.g. the Philippe Picquier offerings) -- and don't see, for example, the Japanese break-through dating to the 1970s (as with most foreign literatures, it's a matter of waves, and there had been considerable Japanese success long before then, too) -- and of course I'm horrified by the idea (Brother Anthony's) that Park Kyung-ni's The Land "would have to be totally rewritten" to make it abroad. And, of course, the Nobel obsession is just plain silly (as they seem to realize -- and yet still have to address).
Nevertheless, quite a few interesting things do crop up.
(One thing I'm curious about: what's the deal with Korean mysteries/thrillers ? That's been a route for many foreign literatures -- not least Japanese -- to establish a firm, low-level foothold in translation, but seems to be completely off the radar regarding Korean works.)