Naver Webtoon and Korea Literature Translation Institute Collaborate to Train Content Translation Personnel... Enhancing Global Competitiveness

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Naver Webtoon is strengthening its global competitiveness by signing a business agreement with the Korea Literature Translation Institute under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

On the 6th, Naver Webtoon announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korea Literature Translation Institute to support the overseas expansion of domestic content. The plan is to develop excellent translation personnel and establish a high-quality translation system that enhances the value and competitiveness of Korean webtoons and web novels.

This business agreement is part of a career development program that supports graduates of the Translation Academy affiliated with the Korea Literature Translation Institute to grow and settle as professional translators. Naver Webtoon provides opportunities for on-site training where graduates of the Translation Academy can participate in actual translation during the localization phase of webtoon and web novel works, and the trainees provide translations that consider the culture and sensibility of local readers in each language area.

Since starting services in English and Traditional Chinese in 2014, Naver Webtoon has expanded to offer services in a total of 10 languages including Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, Spanish, French, German, and Korean, building an ecosystem that allows creators to showcase their works on a global stage. In particular, it provides translation services that consider the local sentiments and cultural empathy of each country.

Kwack Hyo-hwan, President of the Korea Literature Translation Institute, stated, “The history of Hallyu will soon become the history of translation,” and added, “We aim to grow as a core institution for translating Korean language arts and cultural content together with Naver Webtoon, which plays a frontline role in the overseas expansion of Korean webtoons and web novels.”

Lee Shin-ok, Head of U.S. Content at Naver Webtoon, said, “Translation is a highly professional and creative field that requires not only language skills but also the literacy to understand the work and delicate expression comparable to creation,” and added, “Through this agreement, we plan to discover and nurture capable translators and strive to strengthen the global competitiveness of Korean webtoons and web novels.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.