Heidi Kang, Ahn So-hyun win Daesan Literary Award for Translation


Heidi Kang, a German-born translator and former professor, is the co-winner of the 19th Daesan Literary Award, Daesan Foundation announced Tuesday. The award was given for her German translation of author Kim Hoon’s highly acclaimed novel, “Schwertgesang” (The Song of the Sword).

Kang jointly translated the novel, which chronicles the life of Joseon’s most celebrated naval commander Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598), with translator Ahn So-hyun. Kang and Ahn shared the honor for their joint project, and will be given 30 million won in prize money.

The 72-year-old is known as the first German professor in Korea, and her life has been largely influenced by the turbulent modern Korean history.

She moved to Korea in 1963, the same year she married her husband Kang Bin-goo, in Germany. The couple’s peaceful years as lecturers at Seoul National University in Korea came to an end in 1968, as they were accused of being North Korean spies by the government.

Her husband was arrested, and Kang was forced to move back to Germany. She spent the next nine years in her home country as a school teacher, and eventually moved back to Korea and reunited with her husband.

Kang has been teaching German language and literature at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul since 1983. Her job lasted for some 20 years. She’s won numerous awards for her cultural and academic contribution to Korea.

“It would be impossible to do a good translation if you don’t have a good book to work with,” Kang told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday. “I am grateful to author Kim Hoon for this amazing book. I don’t see Yi Sun-sin as a hero. He was more of a sacrificing figure in history.”

Translator Ahn So-hyun, who worked with Kang for some 20 years, said translating Kim Hoon’s novel was a rigorous experience. “Almost all of the sentences of this book are simple, but compressed with so many meanings,” she said. “We tried not to define everything while translating ― we wanted the readers to have an opportunity to read between the lines and really think about the possible meanings of each sentence.”

Meanwhile, poet Shin Dal-ja, novelist Im Chul-woo, playwright Choi Chi-eon, and literary critic Yeom Moo-woong received won prizes in four different categories: poetry, feature-length fiction, play, and literary review. Im received 50 million won prize money for his fiction “Farewell Valley,” while the rest three received 30 million won each, respectively.

All of the prize-winning works by the four winners ― “Papers” by Shin; “Farewell Valley” by Im; “Play of Insanity” by Choi; and “Literature and Reality of the Era” by Yeom ― will be translated into foreign languages and released through overseas publishers.

The official award ceremony is scheduled to be held at Korea Press Center in Seoul on Friday.


By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)