Translators, translations, and paratexts in South Korea’s gender conflicts

What is it about?

In recent years, South Korea has witnessed an unprecedented wave of feminism. Many women have staged demonstrations against deep-seated patriarchal practices and attacked men’s sexuality online in a provocative way. In addition, they have avidly read a wide range of feminist books and shared their gendered experiences in various internet forums. Against this backdrop, this study aims to show how translations and paratexts have been shaped, received, and used in South Korea’s transition to a gender-conscious society. For this purpose, the study reviews three recent gender-related events/phenomena. First, it examines three types of paratexts in translations of feminist books (book titles, cover images, and translators’ prefaces) to reveal what ideologies are most prominent in the translation paratexts. Second, it explores the parodic appropriations of misogynistic terms and discourses, with an emphasis on ‘mirroring’. Third, it introduces political controversies over Korean translations of the terms gender equality and misogyny to show an ideological fault line between two gender groups. This article concludes with brief comments about the constructive effects of translations and paratexts on South Korea’s gender awareness.

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Why is it important?

Against this background, this study discusses three gender-related events or phenomena to show how translations and paratexts have been designed, received, and used in South Korea’s recent transition to a gender-conscious society. It first examines three types of paratexts in Korean translations of feminist books, namely ‘book titles’, ‘cover images’, and ‘translators’ prefaces (postfaces)’. 2 These paratexts show some of the ideologies that underpin the recent feminist movement in South Korea. Second, this study investigates intralingual parodies of gendered discourses, with an emphasis on ‘mirroring’ practices. As will be specified later, parody can be used to subvert the male-centric language in an entertaining and empowering way. Third, the present study introduces political controversies over Korean translations of the terms gender equality and misogyny. These controversies show not only an ideological confrontation between gender groups but also reveal how a translated term serves as a signifier representing an individual’s sexuality.