The Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) held its annual Translation Awards ceremony on Wednesday, paying special tribute to two veteran translators whose decades of work played a crucial role in Han Kang's historic 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature win. Anders Karlsson and Park Ok-kyoung, a translator duo who has been bringing Korean literature to Swedish readers for nearly three decades, received the prestigious Outstanding Service Award during the ceremony held in Seoul.
Kwon Seong-woo, a professor at Sookmyung Women's University and head of the jury committee, emphasized the translators' significant contribution to Korean literature's international recognition. "Their translation work has played a pivotal role in elevating the status of Korean literature in Europe and increasing its international visibility," Kwon stated during the ceremony. He particularly highlighted how the pair "directly introduced Korean literature to the Swedish literary community, which oversees the Nobel Prize in literature."
The Swedish translations of Han Kang's works "We Do Not Part" and "The White Book" by Karlsson and Park were specifically noted as being "highly regarded in the judging process for the Nobel Prize." This recognition underscores the critical role that skilled translators play in making literary works accessible to international audiences and award committees.
During her acceptance speech, Park Ok-kyoung reflected on the challenging early days of their translation work and expressed gratitude for the current success of Korean literature. "When we started, there was no publisher in Sweden willing to publish our translations," Park recalled. "Knowing that, I couldn't be happier to see so many Swedish readers now familiar with Korean literature and to see Han receive the Nobel Prize. Anders and I are grateful to have contributed and thankful to LTI for its support and recognition."
The translator couple's body of work extends far beyond Han Kang's novels, encompassing translations of notable Korean authors including Yi Mun-yol, Hwang Sok-yong, Han Mal-sook, and Bora Chung. Their comprehensive approach to translating Korean literature has helped establish a broader foundation for Swedish readers to appreciate the depth and diversity of Korean literary works.
The 2025 LTI Korea Translation Awards recognized a total of 20 professional and amateur translators who have rendered Korean fiction, films, and webtoons into 12 different languages. The Grand Prize was awarded to three outstanding translators: Lee Ki-hyang, who translated Bora Chung's "Cursed Bunny" into German; Tayfun Kartav, who translated Chang Kang-myoung's "Homodominance" into Turkish; and Najbar-Miller Justyna Agata, who translated Han Kang's "We Do Not Part" into Polish.
In the Aspiring Translators category for fiction, nine translators received recognition for their work translating either Kim Ki-tae's "The Internationale for Two" or Seo Jang-won's "Little Pride" into various languages. The awards also honored eight translators in the film and webtoon categories, including Adelle Wee Xing Min, who had previously been recognized at the 56th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards organized by The Korea Times the previous month. Wee's work involved translating director Namkoong Sun's 2024 film script "Time to Be Strong" into English.
The awards ceremony demonstrated the growing global interest in Korean cultural content, with LTI Korea reporting that nearly 670 entries were submitted this year—the largest number since the awards program began in 2001. This surge in submissions reflects the increasing international appetite for Korean literature and media content.
Established in 1996, LTI Korea has been instrumental in supporting the translation of Korean literature for global audiences. The organization has facilitated the publication of more than 2,000 Korean titles overseas in 44 different languages, creating a vast network of Korean literary works accessible to international readers.
LTI Korea President Chon Soo-young addressed the significance of Han Kang's Nobel Prize achievement while emphasizing the continued need for translation efforts. "Korean literature has now passed the milestone of the Nobel Prize, but it must continue striving to firmly establish itself as a literature loved around the world," Chon stated during the ceremony. "These awards aim to encourage that ongoing effort," he added, highlighting the institution's commitment to expanding Korean literature's global reach beyond this historic achievement.
