Emeritus Professor Kim Miy-he from the Department of Theater and Film has been recognized for her efforts in translating the complete works of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (hereinafter Ibsen) into Korean, earning her the King’s Medal of Merit. Professor Kim marks the first instance of a Korean being honored with the King’s Medal of Merit for contributions to the literary field. She dedicated 11 years to the translation effort, learning Norwegian anew in her 60s to translate the plays. We talked with Professor Kim, a master of theater and discuss her journey.

Professor Kim had a fondness for theater from a young age. She enjoyed theater so much that whenever she went out, she would make sure not to miss a visit to the theater, dreaming of becoming an actress. However, due to opposition within her family, she couldn't pursue that dream. She shared, "I loved theater, but I was also a good student who excelled in studies," and added, "After graduating from Korea University with a degree in English Language and Literature, I decided to further my studies and left for Germany to study abroad."

Even during her time abroad, Professor Kim's interest in theater never waned. She went to the University of Vienna in Austria to study theater. She explained, "I loved theater from a young age and thought I should study it in theory. I chose the University of Vienna because their theater curriculum appealed to me the most."

Afterward, mastering the German language and obtaining her doctoral degree in theater studies in just seven and a half years, she started working as a professor in the Department of Theater and Film at Hanyang University in 1998. While teaching students in the department, Professor Kim also translated theater books from overseas. The theater textbooks she translated back then are still considered essential reading among the students of the Department of Theater and Film Studies.
 

Playwright Henrik Ibsen, famous for the play "A Doll's House," has had a significant influence on the modern theater world. However, his recognition in South Korea has been relatively low. Professor Kim explained, "I participated as the Korean representative in the 2006 Ibsen Centenary International Conference, but during a session where we were supposed to share the research and performance status of Ibsen, I couldn't say anything," and added, "I also visited the Centre for Ibsen Studies in Norway, but the lack of Korean-language materials was embarrassing." This experience motivated Professor Kim to start her research on Ibsen in 2007.

Proficient in German, Professor Kim started her studies by reading materials in English and German. She shared, "When I published the Ibsen biography in 2010 and read the plays in English and German, I noticed slight differences between the two versions," and added, "I realized that I needed to read the original Norwegian texts."

Although she didn't know Norwegian, Professor Kim began studying the language while reading the original texts. From 2010 to 2022, she dedicated about 11 years to translation work, even though she occasionally felt overwhelmed. Professor Kim said, "There were many difficult moments when I couldn't find a clear reason for continuing with the translation work," and explained, "During those times, the encouragement from those around me was very helpful."
 

In May of last year, Professor Kim published the complete works of the plays and on the 3rd of this month, she received the King’s Medal of Merit. When asked about her feelings upon receiving the award, Professor Kim shared, "I was moved to tears as soon as I received the news about the award," and continued, "Translating works written in the unique language of Norwegian into Korean made it even more meaningful."

While translating Ibsen's plays, Professor Kim highlighted the play "Brand" as the most memorable work. She explained, "The protagonist “Brand,” who values principles of life, embodies a human character that is increasingly rare in today's world," and added, "The play is lengthy and written in verse, making the translation challenging, but it was the most impactful work for me."

Plays and theater are an inseparable relationship. Plays alone cannot give birth to theater, and without theater, one cannot fully enjoy the essence of a play. Professor Kim expressed, "Plays demands a lot of imagination since they are read with the stage in mind," and added, "I translated them while considering the mechanisms of Korean stages, the synchronization of actors, and adjusting to the emotional context of Korea."

As for her favorite literary work, she mentioned Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play "Faust." She explained, "In 1999, I created the script for “Faust” performance at the Seoul Arts Center and felt the depth of the work," and continued, "I believe it's a masterpiece that can satisfy the intellectual curiosity of the Korean public."

Professor Kim advised students studying theater, saying, "In theater, having a broad perspective on art as a whole is important," and added, "Only those who strive to achieve depth and breadth in life can create great works."

Regarding her future plans, Professor Kim shared, "I haven't let go of the dream I had when I was young," and continued, "My dream is to compile a collection of Kim Miy-he's works that encompass various genres like plays, novels, and poems."