The Korea Times is hosting a special book discussion featuring acclaimed Korean author Jang Ryu-jin and literary translator Sean Lin Halbert on November 4 in Seoul. The event, titled "To the Moon: Korean Literature Meets the World," will bring together writers, literary translators, and book enthusiasts to explore the art and challenges of literary translation.
The discussion will take place as part of the 56th Modern Korean Literature Translation Award ceremony at the Kyobo Building in Seoul's Gwanghwamun district. The event will focus on Jang's latest novel "To the Moon," which Halbert translated into English and was published in English-speaking countries earlier this year. The book has gained international recognition, with translations already available in Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Turkish, Spanish, and German.
During the conversation, Jang and Halbert will discuss not only the novel itself but also broader topics including the future of Korean literature on the global stage and the crucial role that translation and translators play in connecting cultures. Literary critic In A-young will serve as moderator for the discussion, guiding the conversation between the author and translator.
The Modern Korean Literature Translation Award, one of Korea's longest-running literary translation honors, has been discovering and nurturing talented translators for more than fifty years. Halbert's own career in literary translation began after winning this prestigious award in 2018. Since then, he has established himself as a prominent translator of Korean literature, with notable works including "The Cabinet" (2021) by Kim Un-su, "Counterattacks at Thirty" (2025) by Sohn Won-pyung, and "The Black Orb" (2025) by Ewhan Kim.
In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Halbert shared insights about the complex challenges involved in translating cultural nuances while working on "To the Moon." He explained how seemingly simple cultural references can carry deeper meaning that might be lost without proper context. "There's a scene about choosing between Starbucks and Coffee Bean. If you don't realize that everyone goes there to get coffee, you might miss what's really happening," Halbert noted. He also highlighted cultural differences in daily habits, explaining how the protagonist's decision to skip brushing her teeth after lunch might seem insignificant to American readers, who typically brush their teeth only in the morning and at night, while in Korea, post-meal teeth brushing is a common practice.
Attendees at the upcoming book discussion can expect to hear more detailed insights about the creative decisions and cultural challenges involved in bringing Korean literature to English-speaking audiences. The conversation will likely delve into the translator's process of maintaining the original work's essence while making it accessible and meaningful to readers from different cultural backgrounds.
The award ceremony portion of the event will begin at 6 p.m., with the book talk following at 7 p.m. Admission to both the ceremony and discussion is free of charge. Those interested in attending can make reservations by scanning the QR code provided by The Korea Times. This event represents an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in Korean literature, translation studies, or cross-cultural communication to gain valuable insights from accomplished professionals in the field.
