The international Korean bestsellers “Please Look After Mom,” children’s story “Leafie, A Hen into the Wild,” and “The Investigation” all owe some of their success in the English-speaking world to Kim Chi-young.

The 33-year-old translator, who lives in Los Angeles, is currently translating the soul-searching book, “Things You See When You Pause,” by Buddhist monk Haemin.

Kim started translating as a kind of hobby as she loves reading, but nowadays Korean writers are making a beeline to her doorstep.

“I struggle with words or expressions that are tough to convey in English, but that is the allure of translating,” she told the Chosun Ilbo by email.

“I often get excited whenever I encounter a uniquely Korean word or expression, as if I am going on an adventure. What makes my heart race is to be able to translate something that is seemingly impossible to translate.” More.

See: The Chosun Ilbo

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