Why translating Korean series in English is challenging. Squid Game: lost in translation.

Why translating Korean series in English is challenging. Squid Game: lost in translation.

Recently, K-drama or Korean drama has been catching attention of many worldwide. One of the K-drama that has been very successful is the Squid Game. Squid Game gathered about 110 million viewers on Netflix, making it top 20 shows on Netflix. Squid Game series rotates a contest which 456 players who are in financial debt, risking their lives to play deadly children’s games for a chance to win KRW 45.6 billion prize. The title of this Korean drama series, Squid Game is similar to Korean children’s game. This story line caught attention of many people not only in Korea but worldwide, and due to its popularity, the need for English subtitles and Korean translators were on the rise.

Squid Game: lost translation

As 110 million viewers have watched Squid Game on Netflix however, there were some critics who have criticized the English translation or English subtitles. Several of bilingual or multilingual Korean speakers have criticized that some of the dialogues being said in the series were rather “botched” or simply put, translation was rather lost. This could be because to translate from Korean to English not only involves linguistic aspects but also cultural aspects.

Why translating from Korean to English is challenging?

As Korean series or movies are becoming even more popular these days, it definitely put pressures on translators’ shoulders to translate everything accurately and correctly. However, Korean is known as the most difficult language to translate from and to as Korean grammar has opposite rules from English. Korean language observes hierarchies of how one should address certain people as they use different words depending on whom one is talking to base on Korea’s hierarchy system. Not understanding Korean culture can lead to mistranslated. Also, there are certain Korean words that have no English translation, it makes translation more difficult. For example, “눈치보다” (noon-chi) can be literally translated as “eye measure”, however, proper translation of this phrase is rather “walk on eggshells”. To understand this phrase fully, one must understand Korea’s high-context culture where a lot of things are communicated non-verbally. Because of Korea’s distinct culture compared to the Western, translators must be familiar with cultural aspects while translating Korean context, which makes it even more challenging.  

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