@article{ART003214772},
author={Sang-Bin Lee},
title={A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy},
journal={The Journal of Translation Studies},
issn={1229-795X},
year={2025},
volume={26},
number={2},
pages={11-51},
doi={10.15749/jts.2025.26.2.001}
TY - JOUR
AU - Sang-Bin Lee
TI - A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy
JO - The Journal of Translation Studies
PY - 2025
VL - 26
IS - 2
PB - The Korean Association for Translation Studies
SP - 11
EP - 51
SN - 1229-795X
AB - The origin of Translation Studies in South Korea can be traced back to the late 1960s, when translation had not yet been acknowledged as an independent subject of study. During this formative period, Song Yo-in, a professor of English Language and Literature at Dongguk University, sought to develop his own translation theory. Song earned his doctorate in 1974 with a dissertation on translation theory, which later became the foundation for his first book, Translation: Theory and Practice (1975). His engagement with translation studies deepened over the following decade, culminating in the publication of Topics in Translation Studies (1985). Until his passing in 1989, Song remained a leading figure in the field, producing a significant body of work now considered central to Korean Translation Studies. Nonetheless, his legacy has not received the recognition it merits, even within the field of translation studies. Considering this gap in the literature, the present study examines Song’s life and contributions, with an emphasis on four key concepts in his work: Weltanschauung (world view), Sprachgefühl (language feeling), the translatable core structure (the minimal essential structure for translation), and transeme (an autonomous unit of translation). By analyzing each of these concepts in detail, this essay explores both the significance and limitations of his academic legacy.
KW - Early translation studies in South Korea;a pioneer in translation studies;first volumes on translation theory;cognitive dimensions of translation;translations of Korean literature
DO - 10.15749/jts.2025.26.2.001
ER -
Sang-Bin Lee. (2025). A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy. The Journal of Translation Studies, 26(2), 11-51.
Sang-Bin Lee. 2025, "A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy", The Journal of Translation Studies, vol.26, no.2 pp.11-51. Available from: doi:10.15749/jts.2025.26.2.001
Sang-Bin Lee "A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy" The Journal of Translation Studies 26.2 pp.11-51 (2025) : 11.
Sang-Bin Lee. A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy. 2025; 26(2), 11-51. Available from: doi:10.15749/jts.2025.26.2.001
Sang-Bin Lee. "A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy" The Journal of Translation Studies 26, no.2 (2025) : 11-51.doi: 10.15749/jts.2025.26.2.001
Sang-Bin Lee. A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy. The Journal of Translation Studies, 26(2), 11-51. doi: 10.15749/jts.2025.26.2.001
Sang-Bin Lee. A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy. The Journal of Translation Studies. 2025; 26(2) 11-51. doi: 10.15749/jts.2025.26.2.001
Sang-Bin Lee. A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy. 2025; 26(2), 11-51. Available from: doi:10.15749/jts.2025.26.2.001
Sang-Bin Lee. "A pioneer of translation studies in South Korea: Song Yo-in’s translation theory and legacy" The Journal of Translation Studies 26, no.2 (2025) : 11-51.doi: 10.15749/jts.2025.26.2.001
