The Korea Times is calling upon translators worldwide to participate in the 56th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, a prestigious annual competition that has been recognizing excellence in literary translation since 1970. This longstanding competition serves as a cornerstone for promoting Korean literature to international audiences and has played a crucial role in developing the careers of many prominent translators and scholars working in the field today.

The Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards has established itself as a launching pad for emerging translation talent, with many of today's leading translators having begun their careers as winners of this competition. The Korea Times remains committed to fostering the next generation of skilled translators who will continue to bridge Korean literature with global readerships in the years ahead.

The annual competition focuses on English translations of contemporary Korean literary works, divided into two main categories: fiction/drama and poetry. Both categories offer substantial monetary prizes to recognize outstanding translation work.

The prize structure for the 56th edition includes several award levels. The Grand Prize in Fiction/Drama carries a reward of 7 million won, while the Grand Prize in Poetry offers 4 million won. Additionally, Commendation Awards provide 2 million won each to exceptional entries in either the fiction/drama or poetry categories. The competition also features the Kevin O'Rourke Award, which grants 1 million won to an outstanding entry in either category, honoring the memory of the renowned translator's contributions to Korean literature.

Participants must adhere to specific submission guidelines depending on their chosen category. Applicants may submit a translation of either a work of fiction or drama, or alternatively, 10 poems by the same poet. However, each applicant is limited to submitting only one entry in either category to ensure fair competition.

For the Fiction/Drama category, candidates must submit an English translation of one complete work of fiction, which may include a novel, novella, or short story, or alternatively, a theatrical play. A crucial requirement is that the original Korean work must have been first published in 1980 or later. While longer works do not automatically receive preference in judging, some additional credit will be given to acknowledge the extra effort involved in translating substantial works. The competition also accepts translations of portions of long novels, provided that the submitted portion represents at least one-third of the complete novel and the translator demonstrates a clear intention to translate the entire work.

The Poetry category requires candidates to submit English translations of exactly 10 poems, all written by the same Korean poet. Similar to the fiction category, the original poems must have been first published in or after 1980 to be eligible for consideration.

Several general rules apply to all submissions regardless of category. All translations must be submitted before the deadline of August 31, 2025. Submissions should be sent as email attachments in PDF format to the designated email address: ktimes.translation@gmail.com. The subject line of the email must clearly state "The Korea Times Translation Awards" to ensure proper processing of the entry.

The competition represents more than just a translation contest; it serves as a vital cultural bridge connecting Korean literary traditions with international readers. Through this annual awards program, The Korea Times continues its decades-long mission of promoting Korean literature on the global stage while nurturing the translation community that makes this cultural exchange possible.

Translators interested in participating can find additional detailed information and specific submission requirements through The Korea Times' official channels. The competition welcomes both established translators and newcomers to the field, maintaining its tradition of discovering and supporting emerging talent in Korean literary translation.

This year's competition continues the legacy of previous editions, which have consistently contributed to the growing international recognition of Korean literature. As Korean cultural content gains increasing global attention, the role of skilled literary translators becomes ever more important in sharing the depth and richness of Korean literary traditions with worldwide audiences.