First Complete English Translation of 'Samguk Yusa' Published, Fruit of 60 Years of Dedication by Dutch Scholars

A monumental book has been published, providing the first complete English translation of 'Samguk Yusa' (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), a work that has profoundly influenced the formation of Korean historical and cultural identity, accompanied by in-depth annotations.

According to the European Korean studies community on July 7, the University of Hawaii Press recently published 'Vestiges of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea,' the first full English translation of the 'Samguk Yusa,' compiled by the Goryeo Dynasty monk Iryeon, complete with extensive annotations.

While there have been previous English versions introduced to overseas readers, such as the 1972 edition translated by Ha Tae-hung and others published by Yonsei University Press, this marks the first time a complete English translation covering the entirety of 'Samguk Yusa' with detailed annotations has been released.

The publication of this annotated classic, which contains diverse stories offering a glimpse into the lives, customs, spiritual world, and history of ancient Koreans, is expected to deepen overseas readers' understanding of Korean history and culture and open new horizons for Korean studies research.

The book, published after review by international experts in Korean studies, is considered the fruit of over 60 years of dedication by three generations of scholars—teachers and students—from Leiden University in the Netherlands.

Leiden University, which has the longest history among Dutch universities, was the first in Western Europe to establish a department of Korean studies, serving as the birthplace of Korean studies research in Europe.

The project was completed through the efforts of Frits Vos (1918–2000), a pioneer of European Korean studies and a key figure in establishing the department, who poured his life into the initial translation; his student, Professor Emeritus Boudewijn Walraven (79); and Walraven's student, the current professor Remco Breuker (54). They meticulously verified the original text and conducted research, adding footnotes based on a vast array of materials, including existing Korean and English translations and various academic papers.

The late Professor Vos, Professor Emeritus Walraven, a former president of the Association for Korean Studies in Europe, and Professor Breuker, who has focused on the study of medieval Korean history, are all considered scholars who have achieved significant accomplishments in European Korean studies.

Professor Vos, who is believed to have first encountered 'Samguk Yusa' when he published a paper on the subject in a German East Asian studies journal in 1954 and 1955, reportedly made the complete English translation and annotation of the work his life's task after accelerating his research and data collection during a sabbatical in Korea in 1960.

However, as he worked in an era before the digital advancements of today, there were limitations in accessing materials and conducting research. Professor Vos eventually passed away leaving behind only a partial draft, unable to complete the full translation and annotation.

It is said that before his death in 2000, he left a final wish to his top student, Professor Walraven, asking him to complete the translation and annotation work he could not finish.

Although Professor Walraven could not immediately carry out his teacher's wish due to various constraints, the project gained momentum in 2010 when Professor Breuker, an expert on the Goryeo Dynasty and a favorite student of Walraven, joined the effort, turning the 'Samguk Yusa' translation project into a three-generation endeavor by scholars at Leiden University.

On July 6 (local time) at Leiden University, Professor Breuker remarked, "Because Professor Vos had translated about 90 percent of it, I initially thought we could finish the translation and annotations in about three years, but that was a miscalculation." He added, "Since a lot of time had passed since the initial draft, it was not as easy as I thought to revise it to reflect recent research on 'Samguk Yusa' and to add the footnotes."

As both Professor Walraven and Professor Breuker had to balance their respective duties and research at the university while working on 'Samguk Yusa' in their spare time, it took 16 long years from the start of the full-scale project to complete and publish the translation.

In a sense, Professor Vos's lifelong dream was realized after 60 years by the students of the Leiden University Korean studies department, where he had planted the seeds.

"It is personally meaningful to complete the translation started by the mentor who opened the path for Korean studies," said Professor Breuker. "For the last six years (before publication), I had weekly Wednesday phone calls with my teacher, Professor Walraven, for three to four hours, where we intensely debated and refined our thoughts. I think that is what made the seemingly impossible possible."

Professor Breuker evaluated the work by saying, "'Samguk Yusa' is an important classic that contributed significantly to forming the identity of the Korean people; for Koreans, this book is comparable to the Bible in the West. Furthermore, 'Samguk Yusa' itself is a compelling work filled with rich stories."

He added, "While Korean culture is currently in the global spotlight, many people around the world do not know that Korea has a unique culture and history that has continued for a long time, just like China or Japan. I hope that those who read this book will learn that Korea has a rich and diverse past and that it has cultivated and preserved its own unique history and culture over thousands of years."

Professor Breuker also noted, "Overseas researchers in Korean studies have long felt the absence of a complete translation that allows for a deep academic understanding of 'Samguk Yusa,' and I hope this book will, at least in some small way, quench that thirst."

Meanwhile, the preface to the complete English translation of 'Samguk Yusa,' which spans 570 pages including annotations and a chronological table, was co-authored by Professor Grace Koh of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London, who assisted Professor Breuker with critical understanding.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.