Smooth translation to a language from another is more than a direct correspondence between the source and target language. However, translators' and interpreters' careful concern of expressiveness is often ignored by readers or audiences. Moreover, advancing machine translation and easier access to this field from non-experts impede the position of trained translators. A number of translation scholars have suggested transcreation as a breakthrough for building an irreplaceable status as a human translator. In the meantime, transcreation studies based on English-Korean mostly render marketing field examples. This study began from this point: lack of literature transcreation study (English-Korean). Literature transcreation requires high level translation skills with aesthetic impression. In other words, literature transcreation helps translators/interpreters achieve one's originality and creativity.
Thus, this study aims to seek for translator's realm expansion looking into transcreation case studies conducted by public domain literature. Public domain refers to the expiration of copyrights; this frees translators from faithfully translating an original work. This study also focuses on romance genre because it's judged to be marketable in Korean publication and contents.
This study shows the following results after closely examining preceding research, transcreated domestic publications, and web sources. First, transcreational publications of Pride and Prejudice and Little Women were worthy of being evaluated as novel works; domestic publications inspired by the two originals freshly constitutes the characters, events, and background. Second, transcreational publications of Wuthering Heights and J ane Eyre demonstrate descriptive alteration although not novel from original story. They mainly add illustrations and slightly edit original text. This strategy enables modern readers' easier access to the classic. Third, the original novel only serves the role of an inspirational source in case of the transcreation through media shift. That is, image media, in particular, embodies domestic culture and existing social issues while adopting the theme of original works.
The limitation of this study is the narrow research genre and region. Nonetheless, the romance genre has the implication of expanding existing research scope of transcreation. Also, the prolonged role of translator as a passive intermediary is not confined to Korea. Therefore, transcreation study with other languages would also dedicate increased competence of field interpreters and translators, not to mention the realm expansion of their business.