Taiwanese literature is gaining readers abroad, particularly in South Korea, but still struggles to sustain long-term momentum, translators said yesterday, citing challenges such as limited funding, shrinking translator networks and uneven exposure in foreign markets.
At this year's International Forum on Taiwan Literature Translation and Publishing in Tainan, South Korean translator Kim Tae-sung said Taiwanese literature has made “remarkable progress” in South Korea in recent years, as far fewer works from China have been translated and published, prompting readers to turn to Taiwan’s diverse, mature storytelling.
“In less than two years, the South Korean edition of Ghost Town (鬼地方) sold more than 30,000 copies,” Kim said.
Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature
“Taiwanese literature has become more sophisticated in theme and style, and its quality is what draws South Korean readers,” he said.
“In Japan, Wu Ming-yi (吳明益) is the most popular Taiwanese author, and several of his works have even been reissued in pocket-sized editions,” said veteran translator Etsuko Uozumi, who has long been dedicated to promoting Taiwan’s indigenous writing.
“It is rare for Taiwanese literature to be published in that format, which shows a growing readership despite the small scale of the market,” she said.
However, Uozumi also highlighted the hurdles facing literature in Japan, particularly limited funding and a decline in translators, which she said have made it increasingly difficult to sustain the momentum of translated works in the country.
Polish translator Maciej Artur Gaca said promoting Taiwanese literature overseas remains challenging if readers are not exposed to an author’s name, adding that “continuity” is a benchmark of success in a small market.
“If the book is discussed in literary magazines, cited in universities or translated from Polish into other languages, that’s a real impact,” added Gaca, a former Polish representative to Taiwan.
The forum gathered translators, editors, publishers and academics from seven countries, including the US, the UK and the Czech Republic.
It coincided with a literary translation workshop led by Singaporean translator Jeremy Tiang (程異) and Anna Goode, managing director of the British Centre for Literary Translation, held for the first time in Taiwan after four editions in the UK.
Both events are part of the inaugural Taiwan Writers Festival, which runs through Nov. 30.
Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳), head of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, the events’ main organizer, said the festival was inspired by the strong reception of Taiwanese writers at international literary events.
“It is about time for Taiwan to have a writers’ festival for our own authors,” she said.
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