The Korea Times is inviting translators from around the world to participate in the 56th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards.

Since 1970, The Korea Times has been dedicated to recognizing excellence in literary translation and promoting Korean literature to a global readership through this annual competition. Many of the leading translators and scholars working in the field today began their careers as winners of the Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, and The Korea Times looks forward to ushering in a new generation of skilled translators in the years to come.

The annual competition awards English translations of works of contemporary Korean literature in two categories: fiction/drama and poetry.

Prize

• Grand Prize in Fiction/Drama: 7 million won

• Grand Prize in Poetry: 4 million won

• Commendation Awards: 2 million won each to entries in either fiction/drama or poetry

• Kevin O'Rourke Award: 1 million won to an entry in either fiction/drama or poetry

Submission guidelines

Applicants may submit a translation of 1) a work of fiction or drama or 2) 10 poems by the same poet. Applicants should submit only one entry in either category.

• Fiction/Drama

Candidates should submit an English translation of one work of fiction (a novel, novella or short story) or a play. The first publication date of the original Korean work should be 1980 or later. Longer works will not automatically be given preference, although some credit will be given for the additional effort involved. A translation of one portion of a long novel will be considered on the condition that it presents at least a third of the complete novel and the translator plans to translate the entire work.

• Poetry

Candidates should submit English translations of 10 poems, all by the same poet. The original poems should have been first published in or after 1980.

General rules

Translations should be sent before Aug. 31, 2025, as email attachments in PDF format to ktimes.translation@gmail.com with the subject “The Korea Times Translation Awards.”

See here for more details.