KF뉴스레터-Getting to Know Korea Through Literature

Getting to Know Korea Through Literature

Before coming to Korea, I had an opportunity to meet the honorary consul to St. Petersburg. Over lunch, we talked about what needed to be done in the future by the recently opened consulate to promote relations between Russia and Korea, what role it should play in northwestern Russia, and what role it should play in introducing Korean culture to the people of the region. Upon hearing that I was soon to leave for Korea, the consul suggested that during my stay in Seoul I gather information about publishing houses in Korea, what kind of books were being published, and which literary works were steady sellers. He said he had a plan to promote translation of Korean literature into Russian here in St. Petersburg.

I was very happy to hear this news, and thought I would now have a real opportunity to translate Korean literature into Russian. Of course, there are some existing translations of Korean literature or books concerning Korean culture, but most are targeted at Korean studies scholars or specialists. It is still difficult for average Russians to get hold of Korean works of literature. I have several Russian friends who say it is very easy to get Chinese or Japanese novels at the local bookstore, but that it is very hard to find any Korean novels or poems.

It often seems that the only things most Russians know about Korea are kimchi, taekwondo, Samsung, and LG, and it certainly seems they know almost nothing about Korean literature or the arts. Of course, since the establishment of bilateral relations a decade ago, they clearly know more about Korea now than before.

Due to the presence of Korean students and other Korean residents in Russia, ordinary Russians have been able to gain some information about Korean literature, and many have decided to study the Korean language. There have also been opportunities to attend Korean film festivals, exhibitions of Korean art, and even traditional dance performances. At the same time, many Russian institutes of higher education have concluded sister ties with Korean universities and have held joint academic seminars with their Korean counterparts.

Unfortunately, however, few Russians have turned their interest to Korean literature. In order to develop relations between Korea and Russia, the two countries need to gain a deeper understanding of each other's culture. The culture of a country represents a people's experiences and viewpoints, tradition and customs, way of thinking and popular sentiment. So what is the best way to know the Korean people? I would recommend reading at least one work of Korean literature. This is because I believe all of society's answers can be found in literature. If one happens to read a Korean classic or contemporary novel, one will be able to discover the true portrait of Koreans inside that book.

If Russians can gain a proper perspective of Korean culture and the Korean people, this will promote mutual communication and understanding. It will also help the people of both countries to get rid of many preconceived notions or prejudices about each other and pave the way for forging better relations. As the saying goes, "Close neighbors are better than distant relatives." As close neighbors, Korea and Russia need to make a better effort to understand each other for the sake of peace and prosperity in both countries and should therefore make joint efforts to promote relations in a variety of fields.

Political and literary relations between Korea and Russia began in the late 19th century. The fact that Russian literature once had a heavy influence on Korean literature testifies to the existence of such exchanges. Also, Korean classical novels such as Chunhyangjeon, Simcheongjeon, Heungbujeon and Hong- gildongjeon have been translated into Russian, thereby introducing Korean culture and literature to the Russian people.

Unfortunately, relations between South Korea and Russia were severed during the Cold War period and all exchanges between the two countries ceased. In spite of this, some Russian scholars continued their studies of Korean literature. So far, classical and medieval period Korean literature has been introduced and translated in Russia mostly from the perspective of creating academic study materials. However, there has been almost no study of modern or contemporary Korean literature and few works have been translated or published in Russian. Fortunately, Korea-Russia relations were re-established in 1990, and the two countries now have plenty of opportunity to learn about each other? culture.

In this respect, literature is an important medium of exchange. Only now have we been able to read modern and contemporary Korean works in Russian and gain access to research materials on the subject. It is now possible for Russians to study in Korea as exchange students or gather research materials on the history of contemporary Korean literature. Indeed, I first learned Korean and heard lectures on Korean culture and literature in 1992 when I began my studies in the Korean language at the department of Oriental Studies at St. Petersburg State University. At the recommendation of a Korean student, I read Kim Dong-in? short story ?otatoes?and immediately felt a great interest in the writer, who wrote in the 1920s and 1930s. As a PhD student researching Korean literature history, I have been moved and deeply impressed many times during my reading of Korean literature. In order to introduce Russian readers to the work of Kim Dong-in, I translated into Russian the three short stories "Potatoes", "Sonata Appassionata" and "Mad Painter" and I hope to translate more works by Korean writers from the 20s and 30s in the future.

By way of conclusion, I would like to offer one practical suggestion. It would be greatly beneficial for those studying Korean literature to team up with Korean studies scholars in Russia to translate contemporary Korean novels into Russian. By doing so, we can raise the quality of translation and contribute to the globalization of Korean literature. I think that if the key principles of careful choice of literary works, quality translation, and quality footnotes are respected, then successful translations can be produced.

In the first case, attention should be given to famous, high-quality Korean works that will serve to promote knowledge of Korean culture. In the second case, the style of the original author should be maintained. Finally, in the third case, translators and publishers must help readers better understand the material by providing background information and general introductions to Korean literary works. Only in this way will Russians who have been educated in the Western style be able to gain a proper understanding of Korean literature and experience for themselves its special beauty and charm.

Promoting knowledge of Korean culture and literature and translating great works is a meaningful and necessary task. One hopes that future exchanges between the two countries will not stop at trade relations but include literary exchanges between ordinary citizens through the translation of literature.

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Getting to Know Korea Through Literature

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Getting to Know Korea Through Literature

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