The literary translation community is celebrating translator Song Ye-seul as the latest recipient of a prestigious national award.

The Yoo Young Academic Foundation revealed on November 13 that Song has captured the 20th Yoo Young Translation Award. Her winning project is the Korean edition of Orbital, originally penned by British author Samantha Harvey.

According to the panel of judges, Song’s rendition stands out for capturing the intense psychological depths of characters confined within an isolated environment. The committee commended her ability to articulate deep concerns about humanity's future and intrinsic value through a calm, steady narrative voice. Song has built a solid portfolio over the years, having previously translated works such as The Maniac and Souvenirs.

The final competition was fierce. Other shortlisted titles that earned immense acclaim included James by Percival Everett, translated by Song Hye-ri, and Anne Carson’s classic Eros the Bittersweet, translated by Hwang Yu-won.

The selection process was rigorous. Out of 824 English-to-Korean literary titles published throughout 2025, the Institute of English Language and Literature at Yonsei University initially filtered out 17 works demonstrating exceptional fidelity, fluency, and polish. A distinguished panel of professors from prominent universities—including Korea University, Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Seoul National University, and Sookmyung Women's University—then reviewed the finalists to select the ultimate winner.

The Yoo Young Translation Award was inaugurated in 2007 to commemorate the late Prof. Yoo Young, a pioneering figure in English literature and translation in South Korea. The official ceremony takes place on November 20 at 6:00 PM at the Yonsei University Alumni Hall, where the winner will be presented with a certificate and a 10 million won cash prize.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]