The Vegetarian by Han Kang follows the life of Yeong Hye, a South Korean woman who develops anorexia nervosa and schizophrenia. As she experiences recurring nightmares of animal cruelty, her condition becomes exacerbated and her relationships with her family members begin to fall apart. The novel is separated into three sections: The Vegetarian, Mongolian Mark, and Flaming Trees. Each section is narrated by a different character which provides the reader an opportunity to view Yeong Hye’s gradual deterioration from various perspectives.

The novel was originally written by Han Kang in Korean. Due to its wide success, it was then translated into English by Deborah Smith, and Han Kang went on to become the first South Korean author to win the Man Booker International Prize in 2016. Although the novel achieved critical acclaim, some critics argued that the translation of the novel was flawed and pointed out that Deborah Smith had only been learning Korean for six years prior to translating the novel. As a native Korean speaker, I read and studied both the Korean and English versions of the novel and found various translational issues that ranged from improper grammar to missing nuances.

Christine would like to thank Dr. Stiles for giving her this opportunity and for her guidance.