'Man Without Qualities' finally in Korean in full

Diplomacy

Published: 16 May. 2022, 19:18 Updated: 16 May. 2022, 23:22

'Man Without Qualities' finally in Korean in full

From left, Wolfgang Angerholzer, Austrian ambassador to Korea; Shin Ji-young, professor of German literature at Korea University; Shin Hye-yang, professor of German literature at Sookmyung Women's University; and Moon Gwang-hoon, professor of German language and literature at Chungbuk National University, attend the launch of Shin's translation of Austrian author Robert Musil's ″The Man without Qualities″ at the diplomatic residence of Austria in Seoul on Friday. [ESTHER CHUNG]

Austrian author Robert Musil's novel "The Man Without Qualities" has been fully translated into Korean for the first time, announced the Austrian Embassy in Seoul on Friday.

“We are marking today the first-ever full translation of ‘Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften [The Man Without Qualities]’ into Korean, a feat undertaken by Professor Shin Ji-young,” said Wolfgang Angerholzer, Austrian ambassador to Korea, at a book launch at his residence in Seoul on Friday.

“It is no small feat, for she has translated a work that is over 1,000 pages long, and a work that is one of the main representations of 20th-century Austrian literature.”

The work, generally considered one of the most important in modern literature, had been translated by other authors and experts including Ko Won, but previous translations did not cover all known chapters of the work.
The novel itself is unfinished, for Musil began publishing the novel, divided into volumes, in 1930 and died in 1942 without completing it.

The translation by Shin, a professor of German literature at Korea University, was published in March by Nanam Publishing House.

Given that it took the original author more than two decades to write the three volumes of the novel, it was not surprising that it took Shin 15 years to translate them.

“The expression, ‘lost in translation,’ exists for a good reason,” she told the audience at the launch. “The thing that makes it quite difficult to translate Musil’s work is that you really have to get what he’s saying. Only after grasping the full meaning of his words in German would you be able to locate the adequate words in Korean to carry all the right nuances intended by the author.”

Set during the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s last days before the outbreak of World War I, the novel introduces a wide range of existential themes, which has drawn a number of literary critics’ attention from around the world, including those in Seoul.

“Musil speaks in a language that penetrates the human mind and body and soul,” said Moon Gwang-hoon, professor of German language and literature at Chungbuk National University in North Chungcheong. “To understand his language means to be reborn with a completely different linguistic thinking. Worlds exist within each sentence of Musil’s work. It’s a privilege to be able to experience them through his work.”

At the launch, actor Park Sang-won read part of a chapter set in the Vienna Ring Road.

“As I prepared today’s recitation and read through the chapter, I could easily picture myself at the Vienna Ring Road,” Park said. “My impression was that the work of Musil has enough theatrical elements to them to give free reign to imaginations of its readers.”

Austria has dedicated this year and next as special years for literature.

“Austrian literature began to develop in earnest from the 19th century and found its independent voice in the 20th century in the German-speaking world,“ said Angerholzer. “Today the literature of Austria transcends the nation’s geography and demography, and we hope to continue these conversations with both local and international audiences to share the works of modern Austrian writers.”

Austria and Korea celebrate their 130th year of diplomatic ties this year.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]