Turkish Cursed Bunny Won Translation Award

Korean literature works are becoming increasingly popular in Türkiye. It has become easier than ever to access translations of Korean writers, and this is a situation that makes the readership very happy. Translators are not talked about much, but in my eyes, they are the invisible heroes between the writer and the reader. And their job is not easy at all. Recently, nominees were nominated for the Translation category for the first time this year within the scope of the Gio awards, which have been held for 10 years under the FABİSAD association in Türkiye, and Sevda Kul became the first translator to receive the award in this field with her translation from Korean to Turkish. I congratulate our translator and start on to the interview.

Translater: Sevda KUL

Who is Sevda Kul? Can you briefly introduce yourself?

Hello, I'm Sevda Kul. I graduated in interior architecture, but instead of my own job, I've been working as a literary translator from Korean to Turkish since 2022, which I love very much. Apart from translation, I also work as an editor when I have time. Jang Ryujin’s The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work is my first Korean-Turkish translation.

You aren't a Korean Language and Literature graduate, but how did you get into Korean translation? Were there any difficulties?

Even though I felt that the architecture profession was not suitable for me during my university years, I could not quit school once I started.

At that time, I started learning the Korean Language as a hobby, but it became my job years later. I didn't have such a thing as a translating job in my mind. I love reading books. - especially Japanese and Chinese literature. A few years ago, unlike now, few Korean works were translated into Turkish. That is why my encounter with Korean literature was a little late. However, once I got to know Korean literature, I wanted to read more. After a while, I thought that not only myself but everyone should read these books, and so I stepped into the translation business.

There were difficulties, but mostly sectoral problems. I had a hard time finding a publishing house. Publishing houses that published Korean literature books only worked with certain translators. That is why I constantly received negative feedback. But now things are very different. There is a great demand for Korean literature among publishers in Türkiye. I see that sometimes they even have difficulty finding translators. These are very pleasing developments. I hope that many more Korean works will be translated into our language in our country.

What do you think is the reason why the "Cursed Bunny" book is so popular in Türkiye?

Cursed Bunny was published in Türkiye at a time when people were hungry to read something different. The same themes, the same style, the same characters... However, Cursed Bunny approaches the reader in a style we haven't across before. It criticizes things while making them uneasy at the same time. I feel very lucky to be able to translate Bora Chung's books. She always manages to surprise me with her stories. Turkish readers must think the same way.

How did you feel when you were nominated for the translation category, which was opened for the first time in the 10th year of the Gio Awards?

I was both very excited and felt a sense of responsibility. It was the first time a Korean work received a translation award in our country. This is a big organization. It is also gratifying that translators are now more visible in the sector.

What are your future plans for your translation career?

I’m currently translating Bora Chung's book "Your Utopia". I recently translated Cheon Seon-Ran’s science fiction novel “Nine" and Yi Sang's “Wings” into Turkish. I’m eagerly awaiting their publication. I also have Bora Chung's “Midnight Timetable”, Choi Eun-Young's "Shoko's Smile" and "Bright Night" waiting their turn to be released.

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I wish you continued success as a friend who knows you and as a reader. We, as Turkish readers, are eagerly awaiting new translations. 

Thank you for your valuable time.

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Note:

Gio: Levantine Giovanni Scognamillo, Turkish writer, cinema historian, researcher, critic, translator, educator, painter.

FABİSAD: “Fantasy and Science Fiction Arts Association”