Unveiling Koreanness in Yoon Ha Lee’s Dragon Pearl : cultural representation and translation strategies

Kang, Byoung Yoong (author)

The paper explores the representation of Koreanness in Yoon Ha Lee’s Dragon Pearl, a novel that uniquely blends elements of Korean culture with the space opera genre. By examining key cultural markers such as character names, traditional food, and folklore (notably the gumiho), this study highlights how the novel portrays a diasporic sense of identity and belonging. Furthermore, the paper delves into the challenges and strategies of translating these cultural elements into Korean. Through case studies of key passages, it discusses how to maintain cultural nuance and the author’s intent while adapting the work for a Korean readership. Ultimately, this paper underscores the importance of preserving cultural integrity translating science fiction works that embody cross-cultural narratives.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Koreanness, translation strategies, diaspora, space opera, Korean mythology
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 153-176
• Numbering: Vol. 15, No. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-167108
• UDC: 82.521.01:3
• ISSN on article: 2232-3317
• DOI: 10.4312/ala.15.1.153-176
• COBISS.SI-ID: 225534211
• Publication date in RUL: 10.02.2025

KANG, Byoung Yoong, 2025, Unveiling Koreanness in Yoon Ha Lee’s Dragon Pearl : cultural representation and translation strategies. Acta linguistica asiatica [online]. 2025. Vol. 15, no. 1, p. 153–176. [Accessed 24 April 2025]. DOI 10.4312/ala.15.1.153-176. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=167108

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta linguistica asiatica
• Publisher: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete Univerze v Ljubljani, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete Univerze v Ljubljani, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 2232-3317
• COBISS.SI-ID: 255902464

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: korejskost, prevajalske strategije, diaspora, vesoljska opera, korejska mitologija

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: J6-50202
• Name: Konfucijanski preporod in njegov vpliv na sodobne vzhodnoazijske družbe skozi prizmo odnosa med individuumom in družbo

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Funding programme: Ministry of Education, Korea
• Project number: AKS-2022-INC2250001
• Name: Seed Program for Korean Studies