Grants for the Translation, Research and Publication of Korean Literary Works

HISTORY

2008
These grants are intended to encourage the globalization of Korean literature by supporting the translation and overseas publication of the finest literary works of Korean literature. Translations into English, French, German, and Spanish are supported, each project approved receiving a translation support grant of 15 million won.
In 2008, 26 translation projects were submitted, screening in each language being undertaken by several experienced translators and foreign literary specialists. As a result, a total of 13 projects were selected: 4 translation projects in English including Dalgung 1, 3 in French including Flowers of a Moment, 4 in German including Everlasting Empire, and 2 in Spanish including The Fugitive, Yi Chido. The total prize money amounted to 195 million won. A grant-awarding ceremony was held in the Auditorium of the 10th floor of Kyobo Building on September 10, 2008.
In order to spread widely superior Korean literary works, the foundation is pursuing publishing agreements with prominent foreign publishers, landing our first agreement with Mexico's Fondo de Cultura Econ?mica; starting from 2009, they have agreed to publish at least one translated Korean work annually. Furthermore, one of the major poetry publishers in Japan, Shichosha, has released the Modern Korean Poet Series, and the first book published in that series was a collection of poems by Park Jutaek titled Pupils of Time, supported by the Grants for Korean Literature Studies Overseas. The foundation intends to cooperate intimately with Shichosha to publish regularly a series of Korean poems. In 2008, three books that had received translation grants from the foundation were published abroad including two English books and one German book.