Kevin O'Rourke Prize winners Nam Jeong-keun, left, and Nam Seo-jeong

Nam Jeong-keun is a native Korean who currently works as a public official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As an undergraduate, he studied English literature at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. His co-translator and sister, Nam Seo-jeong, is a student at Chung-Ang University, where she is completing a master's in film production. She is currently studying film directing and writing screenplays at the school.

Despite lacking formal training or a professional career in translation, the two have maintained a keen interest in literature and its translation.

"(Having studied) English literature, I developed a strong familiarity with a range of literary texts, primarily those written in English, but also Korean works," Jeong-keun said.

"This exposure sparked a deep interest in translation, especially in how one can convey the essence of a text in another language without losing its original meaning. I occasionally translate texts as a personal hobby, though not as a professional."

Seo-jeong also shared she has been taking an interest in delving into literature since she was young.

"I am not a professional translator of Korean literature, so I cannot confidently say that I have been translating for a long time in the professional world, but I have been interested in exploring literary expressions since childhood," she said.

The two translated a selection of poems, including "Bus Stop Sonata" by poet Son Young-hee, known for her modern "sijo" (three-line Korean poem), who is also their aunt.

They said the original work that portrays the author's meticulous perspective of the world spoke to them.

"Beyond being the author, my aunt has inspired me with her extraordinary attention to all the so-called 'trivial things' in the world, which adds a unique perspective to her work that deeply resonates with me," Jeong-keun said.

To accurately deliver the same resonance he felt in translation, he shared that the most difficult part was maintaining the rhyme and flow of the original text while preserving its intended meaning.

"I believe that an effective translation conveys the original meaning and cultural context of the poem, preserving its poetic form as closely as possible," he said, noting that is the key element to being a good translation.