Translating and Receiving Korean Media: From Squid Game to Life on Mars

Abstract

In recent years, Korean culture has been incredibly successful internationally, from the films of auteur directors like Bong Joon-ho (Parasite) to shows like Squid Game and K-pop music. At the same time, media from the UK has also been successful in South Korea, with popular shows such as Killing Eve and Life on Mars. Written by scholars working across translation, film and media studies, this volume examines the ways in which Korean media has been received and translated in the UK, as well as how British media has fared in South Korea. Case studies explore how Korean media is (re)packaged and categorised for a Western audience and how paratextual material (trailers, adverts, fan reactions) mediates films and shows for international audiences. The book also examines how the Korean remake of Life on Mars localises the British show, how Squid Game has been audio-described and how slower media models can suggest more sustainable forms of consumption and distribution. Demonstrating how interdisciplinary research can shed light on different aspects of global media culture, this volume will be essential reading for scholars and students working on the translation and international media circulation. It will especially appeal to readers interested in the interactions between British and Korean media. This work was supported by the Fund for International Collaboration and the Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/W01081X/1]. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.