InterviewLTI Korea chief bets on human translators despite rapid AI development

Chon Soo-young, president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea), speaks at the institute’s 30th anniversary event at a hotel in Seoul, May 21. Courtesy of LTI Korea

As generative artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the global translation landscape, the head of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) is making a counterintuitive bet: The future of literary translation will rely not less on humans, but more.

Chon Soo-young

“In literature, AI alone cannot meet the level expected by international publishers, without human intervention,” LTI Korea President Chon Soo-young said in a recent interview. “Even if more (advanced) AI models emerge, human post-editors would still be needed to review the work.”

Chon cited an anecdote shared by Kim Un-su, a novelist famous for “The Plotters (2010).” At LTI Korea’s 30th anniversary event on May 21, an editor at an English-language publishing house initially showed little interest after reading a translation of his work, but later decided to publish it after reviewing a version translated by Sora Kim, a prominent literary translator.

“After that, the editor even discussed his next book,” Chon said. “What mattered was not so much to the publisher what the novel was about, but whether Sora Kim would be the one to translate it.”

Her remarks come as the state-run institution formally pushes to establish a graduate school dedicated to translation of Korean literature and cultural content. Chon said global demand for Korean literature has surged in recent years, but the supply of highly skilled translators has not kept pace.

“While there are many translators who work with general, conventional language, there is a broad need for specialists who can handle texts that use language in more distinctive ways — such as poetry; texts that require different linguistic approaches depending on the medium and context; and those involving dialects, archaic language or early modern forms,” she said.

“If we assume that advances in AI will solve the shortage of translators and do nothing, we will end up missing a valuable opportunity like the present. At a time when global demand is increasing, we must actively respond by training professional translators, and meeting this demand is the path to generating even greater demand in the future,” she added.

The chief goal of creating such an institution is to address structural weaknesses in Korea’s current translation ecosystem. Since 2008, LTI Korea has operated a nondegree translation academy that has produced notable achievements, including graduates winning well-known literary awards. However, Chon said this structure limits its ability to attract top faculty and students.

“A degree program would allow for more systematic curriculum development, stable faculty recruitment as well as long-term investment in education,” she said, adding that it would also enable exchanges between Korean and overseas universities, improving both credibility and global reach.

The initiative is currently under review by the Ministry of Education, with LTI Korea aiming for approval by late this year and a potential opening as early as next year. Chon expressed confidence in the timeline, citing growing government recognition of the need for stronger translation support to boost Korea’s cultural exports.

If everything goes as planned, the school will provide programs in seven languages — English, Japanese, Chinese, German, Spanish and Russian — selected based on demand for Korean literature in those markets.

While initial enrollment will be limited to 60 students — 30 Koreans and 30 international students — Chon said the number would be ideal for intensive, practice-based training.

“The program would include practice classes, opportunities to collaborate on translations with professors and authors, and coursework that offers hands-on experience with overseas publishers,” she said. “This feature sets it apart from general graduate translation programs, which often lack sufficient collaboration with overseas publishers, literary agencies and content production companies, resulting in limited pathways for students’ translations to reach actual publication and distribution.”

The inclusion of international students is also strategic. Graduates are expected to become translators, cultural planners or academics in their home nations, forming a global network of Korean literature specialists, Chon noted.

She then emphasized that literary translation is not simply a technical task of converting words between different languages, but a creative process requiring cultural sensitivity, emotional resonance and interpretive judgment.

“Korean literature can strengthen its position within the international literary system only by cultivating highly skilled translators who can produce work tailored to local readers,” she said. “Establishing a graduate school as a dedicated institution for systematically educating such professionals would help address this challenge.”