Revised Literature Promotion Act approved Tuesday
A new legal framework has been established to enable the Literature Translation Institute of Korea to create a degree-granting graduate school for literary translation studies. With approval from the Ministry of Education and government funding for essential expenses, this long-awaited project by the government-affiliated agency can now move forward.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on Tuesday that the revised Literature Promotion Act, introduced by lawmaker Kim Yun-duk of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, was approved in a plenary session at the National Assembly earlier in the day.
“This bill establishes an institutional framework for the systematic development of outstanding translation talent,” the ministry said.
Under the revised legislation, LTI Korea will be able to train 70 to 80 translators annually and grant master’s degrees. The initiative is expected to significantly expand the global reach of Korean literature.
“Translators have played a crucial role in bringing the beauty of Korean literature to global audiences, contributing to its growing international interest,” Culture Minister Yu In-chon said in a press statement. “With this legal amendment, we will cultivate highly skilled translators, promote Korean literature more extensively, and further enhance its global reputation.”
Since 2008, LTI Korea has operated a Translation Academy, training approximately 89 translators annually — a total of 1,514 professionals to date. However, the program’s non-degree status has posed challenges for graduates, including insecure visa statuses and limited professional opportunities, according to LTI Korea.
At a press conference in November, Chon Soo-young, president of LTI Korea, emphasized that establishing a graduate school for literary translation was one of the institute’s top priorities.
Chon added that transforming the academy into a graduate school would provide students with academic credentials, enabling them to secure positions more easily as Korean literature professors, translators, or literary agents in their home countries.
