The Heated Debate Over the Translation of Han Kang’s The Vegetarian During my first year in the Interpretation and Translation graduate program, we had an extensive discussion about the English translation of Han Kang’s novel The Vegetarian . The debate centered around whether the translator had taken too many liberties, to the point of distorting the original meaning, or whether such levels of adaptation should be permissible. Opinions were divided among students, reflecting the broader dilemma in the field of translation—should one translate literally, or is interpretation necessary? This issue is difficult to resolve definitively. In the end, the decision to lean toward literal or free translation lies with the translator. However, in South Korea, it often feels like societal expectations make that decision instead. Having worked as a freelance translator, I’ve experienced firsthand how the industry treats translators as disposable, emphasizing strict adherence to the origina...
Former nurse officer turned Korean–English interpreter, a curious spirit always chasing diverse experiences