Top movie translator Lee discusses his craft and language

Known as the “certified check for Hollywood box office hits” in Korea, Lee has so far translated more than 470 overseas movies into Korean over 18 years. His most renowned works include “Shrek,” “Armageddon,” “As Good As It Gets,” and his first ever work, “Trois Couleurs Bleu,” a winner for best picture at the Venice Film Festival in 1993.

“Translating a movie is a process of creation. Hence it is more than delivering word-for-word language but it is a work that requires the translator to blow in a fresh new meaning into it,” Lee Mi-do told The Korea Herald.

As he gained confidence through repeated successes, he re-started the translator’s real-name system during the ending credits of the movie, which had ceased after the ‘80s with the death of the nation’s only existing translator. Lee suggested that translators’ names should appear at the end of movies, thus giving more authority to movie translators.

Despite his contributions, Lee has been blamed for monopolizing the market, and for his movie choices.

“I did try to choose the scripts with excellent storylines, and they just happened to be successful Hollywood movies. But most of all I did not choose, the works, but I was requested to do so. For all I know, it may be the other way around, since many people watch blockbusters, I just happened to have translated the most-seen movies.” Read the full article.

See: The Korea Herlad