earticle

영어

This study primarily aims to help prevent or minimize translation errors in publications intended to promote the state brand of South Korea abroad. Over the years, various cultural products have greatly contributed to enhancing Korea's state brand, helping expand the country's economic and cultural sphere of influence globally. Among the most important and influential tools for improving Korea's state brand have been foreign-language publications. Regardless of their types, styles or sizes of the materials, the quality of translation is crucial. While managing and publishing government-funded promotional materials at home and abroad for the past 15 years or so, the author has often encountered embarrassing moments due to small and large errors in translated materials. The author has come to the realization that a viable checklist or comprehensive quality control system would be useful in minimizing such mistakes. To this end, this paper analyzed three government-funded publications and an official multi-language website of the Korean government. Errors were identified and explained, while a set of guidelines was presented for translators. The importance of translators was noted, since they are a critical conduit in international communication, not merely as technicians mechanically turning the words they see into a different language. They are important professionals who are expected to be well versed in the culture, geography, reference materials and data, and all other things that pertain to the languages they deal with. In this regard, they could become competent as well as confident facilitators of intercultural exchanges. Continuing progress in the translation sector may even pave the way for a Korean literary work to receive a Nobel Prize in literature.