Korean selected for Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize challenge

Korean has been announced as the language for Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize 2017.

Now in its eighth year, the Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize recognises the achievements of young translators early on in their career. The annual prize focuses on a different language each year and is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 34, with no restriction on country of residence. The chosen language for the 2017 prize is Korean and details of the short story to be translated will be announced shortly.

This year’s prize will be judged by translator Deborah Smith, Jonathan Morley, programme director at Writers’ Centre Norwich, and Harvill Secker editor Ellie Steel. Two more judges will be announced at a later date.

Harvill Secker is continuing its partnership with Writers’ Centre Norwich. This year’s winner will take part in a Writers’ Centre Norwich Emerging Translator Mentorship, presented in association with the Literary Translation Institute of Korea, with Smith, and will also be invited to participate in Crossing Border festival in November this year. As well as the mentorship and taking part in Crossing Border, the winning translator will receive £1000 and a selection of Harvill Secker titles.

Marta Eidsvåg won last year’s prize, translating Norwegian author Merethe Lindstrøm’s story 'Svømme under vann'. She is a translator and writer from Trondheim, Norway. 

The prize was launched in 2010 by Harvill Secker editor Briony Everroad as part of the publisher's centenary celebrations.

Entry details will be announced on the PRH website.