[55th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards] Poetry Grand Prize winner Julie Sohn

By Lee Gyu-lee

Julie Sohn is a newcomer in translation, presently residing in Seoul together with her husband and two sons. Born and raised in Chicago, she studied English on the College of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and earned a grasp’s diploma in worldwide research from Yonsei College.

Nobel laureate Han Kang’s e book “The Vegetarian” triggered her curiosity in Korean literature, when she learn the e book just a few years in the past. This sparked her curiosity within the rising variety of translations of Korean literature.

Regardless of the insecurity in her Korean abilities, her rising love for Korean literature impressed her to problem herself with translation for the primary time to compete within the awards.

“This competitors was the primary time that I took the step in direction of changing into a translator, and I’m so grateful to obtain this honor because it has given me the encouragement I have to additional discover this area and sometime be part of the esteemed neighborhood of extremely gifted translators,” she mentioned.

2024-11-14 17:00  |  Books

2024-11-14 09:00  |  Books

2024-11-14 09:00  |  Books

Sohn translated Choi Seung-ho’s poetry assortment “The Snowman Suicide Incident” to enter the competitors for this award.

She shared that it was the primary Korean language e book she learn and selected the e book as a token of appreciation for introducing her to the world of Korean poetry.

“After having learn many translated works of Korean literature, I needed to aim to learn Korean literature in its authentic language and thought {that a} assortment of poetry can be a superb place to start out,” she mentioned.

To ship the writer’s genuine tone and message all through the gathering, Sohn contemplated incorporating the unique writer’s voice and magnificence in every poem, which was probably the most difficult.

“It was necessary to me that I convey every poem’s message by way of the writer’s voice in order that they, whereas every their very own murals, can seamlessly stand collectively as a group,” she mentioned.

This grew to become particularly as necessary for her as she believes a superb translator shouldn’t solely precisely translate texts but in addition embrace the feelings that the unique textual content evokes.

“I imagine {that a} good translation is ready to not solely ship the message but in addition the feelings that include the message,” she mentioned, including translations that deliver good literature to a worldwide viewers have by no means been wanted extra lately.

“It’s plain that we reside in notably turbulent instances, and I imagine that literature is extra necessary than ever. When it looks like individuals are rising more and more divided, I hope that the supply of literature from all around the globe by individuals from all walks of life will enable us to seek out our method again to humanity. For this reason the work that translators do is so necessary and mandatory, and I wish to specific my gratitude to all these translators who function bridges to individuals in all places.”