Most Translated Korean Writer Go Eun

51 books in 15 languages... Lee MY, Lee CJ follow

The Korean author whose works were introduced overseas the most is poet Go Eun.

According to data on overseas publications of Korean literature compiled by the Korea Literature Translation Institute (Director Kim Joo-youn), 51 books by Go have been published or are scheduled to come out abroad.

His poem collections such as "Maninbo", "Momentary Flower", "Hwaeomgyeong", "South and North Korea", and others have been introduced to foreign readers in 15 different languages.

Fourteen of them were translated into English, seven into German, six into Spanish and four into Swedish.

The next most translated Korean writer is Lee Moon-yeol, to the tune of 50 books in 16 languages.

His feature novel "Poet" has been published abroad eleven times in nine languages including English, French, Italian, Dutch, Chinese and Greek. "Our Twisted Hero", "The Son of Man" and "Geumsijo" have also been published in various languages.

The late Lee Cheong-joon, who died last year, has 36 books translated, and famed novelist Hwang Seok-young, 35 books.

Among Lee's works, "Your Heaven", "Seopyeonje", "Ieodo" and "White Clothes" have been translated into ten languages. Eleven books including "Bihwamilgyo", "Festival" and "Cruel City", acclaimed in Germany, have German editions.

Hwang's "Guest", "The Old Garden", "Mr. Han's Chronicle", "The Shadow of Weapon" and others have been translated into eleven languages.

Hwang's overseas publications have been especially numerous since 2000. Last year alone, "Guest" came out in Spanish and Hebrew and "Mr. Han's Chronicle" in Swedish.