"Writers from Taiwan and Singapore have many translated works. Even authors with less activity than mine have translations available," said Eun Hee-kyung, a prominent South Korean author, during the third meeting of the Literary Division of the Cultural Arts Policy Advisory Committee held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on June 5. She emphasized the need for policies to support domestic publishers in releasing translated works to facilitate the international expansion of K-literature.
The committee, established under the direct supervision of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, reached a consensus on the necessity of strengthening the foundation for translation publishing and enhancing the self-sustainability of the literary ecosystem to promote the globalization of Korean literature.
Eun stated, "Support should enable Korean publishers to directly publish translated works. In Taiwan, local publishers release translated editions, allowing them to submit works for international literary awards like the Booker Prize, even if they have not published locally. If the publication of translated works is activated domestically, it will increase accessibility for overseas readers."
Committee members unanimously agreed that promoting translation is a key task for the international advancement of K-literature.
Bong Hyun-seok, a novelist and committee member, pointed out, "If Korean publishers aim to enter overseas markets by directly publishing translations, the government should provide support. Major domestic publishers like Munhakdongne and Changbi tend to focus only on bestsellers and are reluctant to actively introduce these works abroad."
There was also a strong emphasis on the need for institutional improvements to enhance the self-sustainability of the literary ecosystem. The committee proposed expanding literary sharing initiatives, introducing public lending rights, improving access to the National Korean Literature Museum, and enhancing the treatment of employees at the Korean Literature Translation Institute.
Poet Kwak Hyo-hwan noted, "When the National Korean Literature Museum was being established, Eunpyeong-gu promised various supports, including the introduction of the GTX, but these have not been fulfilled. It is necessary for the Ministry of Culture to demand that Eunpyeong-gu honor its commitments." The National Korean Literature Museum is set to officially open in May 2027.
Additionally, there were suggestions to broaden the connection between readers and books by organizing nationwide literary events and systematically establishing literary festivals through initiatives like designating a 'Book Day.'
On the same day, the Ministry of Culture introduced policies reflecting the committee's opinions. It plans to refine the creation support fund, which has primarily focused on mid-career authors, into a tiered system based on experience levels (emerging, promising, mid-career) for tailored support. The ministry will also expand the number of participants in the 'Literary Resident Program,' which provides jobs and creative spaces. Furthermore, support for 'literary journals,' which serve as debut platforms for emerging authors while also providing income through manuscript fees, will be strengthened. Currently, 35 literary journals receive approximately 16 million won annually, which will be increased to 30 million won for 48 journals starting next year.
In response to the growing demand for translation publishing of Korean literature, the establishment of a translation graduate school has been moved up from 2028 to September 2027, and a new project for 'Translation of Korean Classics and Modern Masterpieces' will be launched.
Minister Choi Hwi-young stated, "We plan to allocate a budget to establish a system that can monitor how our literary works are received abroad and increase government support to ensure that Korean literature books are sufficiently distributed to overseas cultural centers."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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