KF뉴스레터-[KF Mailbox] ‘Korean Dream’ as a Writer & Translator

[KF Mailbox] ‘Korean Dream’ as a Writer & Translator

People > ‘Korean Dream’ as a Writer & Translator

‘Korean Dream’ as a Writer & Translator

Bykova Aleksandra
Inter-University Center for Korean Language Studies
Sungkyunkwan Universty

Greetings! I am a writer and translator from Russia. After earning a master’s degree in Korean Studies at Yonsei University’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Korean Studies, I was given the opportunity to conduct research at Sungkyunkwan University’s (SKKU) Inter-University Center for Korean Language Studies (IUC) as a KF fellow for one year from August 2022 to August 2023. In the fall semester of 2022, I studied Seonghak sipdo (Ten Diagrams on Sage Learning) by the great Joseon-era Confucian scholar Yi Hwang (1501–1570), and delved into his worldview as well as his views on humanity and nature. During spring of this year, I researched Yi’s eco-friendly philosophy by connecting his perspectives on nature, as revealed in his poems, with the biophilia hypotheses presented by American biologist Edward O. Wilson in the 1980s. I believe that all the research I’ve conducted so far constitutes preparation for a doctoral course and I plan to enter the SKKU Graduate School of Confucian Studies next year.

Although I am currently focusing on Korean philosphy and views on nature, back in Russia I graduated from the Department of Translation at the Maxim Gorky Institute of Literature and Creative Writing. Back then, I translated English and Italian literature. When a Korean Language Institute opened at Maxim Gorky in 2009, I began to take Korean classes there as I had become deeply interested in East Asian culture. In 2011, I received a scholarhip that brought me to Korea. Over the course of six months, I studied Korean as an exchange student at Kyungpook National University and was able to experience Korean culture firsthand. Although I had planned to pursue a master’s course in Korea after graduating from Maxim Gorky, my personal circumstances did not allow me to do so and I had to stay in Russia for seven long years.

In 2019, I mustered the courage to apply for an honorary reporter position at the KOREA.net portal operated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS). As a KOREA.net reporter, I could share information about Korean culture with the people of Russia. In 2020, I entered the master’s program at Yonsei University on the Korean government’s Global Korea Scholarship (GKS). I kept a journal then, writing down the knowledge I acquired in graduate school and my impressions as I traveled around Korea. The journal served as the foundation for my book Korean Dream: The Year That Changed My Life published in Russia in June of this year.

Thanks to the global popularity of K-pop, Russian interest in Korea is on the rise. However, not much is known about Korean culture beyond K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean cosmetics. I felt that this was unfortunate and wrote my book hoping to properly introduce the nation of Korea and what I found to be the most unfamiliar and impressive aspects of Korean culture. My book is no great literary work, but I tried my best to provide as much information as possible about Korea including its diverse UNESCO-designated cultural heritage, lesser-known temple food, family-centered holiday traditions, the Korean zeal for hiking, and Confucian-influenced values and approaches to education. The book also covers general characteristics of Korean culture and current Korean trends.

The KF’s continuous support enabled me to join the IUC’s advanced Korean program, and my time there helped me greatly to enhance my Korean language capabilities. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the KF‘s staff for giving me the precious opportunity to become a Korean studies scholar. As a writer I will do my best to promote Korea, and as a translator I will make my utmost contribution to the development of Korean studies. Thank you.