Lost in Translation: Problems of Rendering the Term Sustainable Development into Non-Western Languages as Demonstrated in the Case of South Korea
Kwang-Hoon Baek
Alumnus Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy, KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Daejeon (Korea, Republic of)
Nakil Ko
Alumnus Master of Science Journalism Program, KAIST, Daejon (Korea, Republic of)
Abstract
This study seeks to demonstrate the usefulness of a relatively underutilized approach to studying sustainable development as a term and concept. While studies on sustainable development have generally followed a normative approach seeking what the term should ideally mean, this study follows a historical approach such as recommended by the historian of philosopher Quentin Skinner to explore what changes of definition it has been capable of undergoing in the actual use. To illustrate why such changes may be a critical issue, we have deliberately focused on the case of a country – South Korea – where the very translation of the term into the native language, combined with other factors, has resulted in sustainable development being generally understood by the public as meaning something quite different from the more normative understanding of the term. Instead of a balanced development that protects the environment and promotes social welfare as well as promoting economic growth, sustainable development in the standard Korean translation has come to be understood as simply meaning continued economic growth, which is to be sought even at the expense of environmental degradation. For documentation and analysis, we have relied on various methods, while focusing on key sectors and select policy areas, including energy. We conclude with further reflections on why an approach such as ours might be a useful methodological addition in sustainable development research.
Keywords:
sustainable development, conceptual history, language, translation, South Korea, economic growth, energy policyReferences
DE KRUIJF H., VAN VUUREN D., 1998, Following Sustainable Development in Relation to the North-South Dialogue: Ecosystem Health and Sustainability Indicators, in: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, vol. 40, no. 1, p. 4-14.
Google Scholar
EPB, Economic Planning Board, 1986, The 6th Five-year Economic Development Plan: The Plan for Energy and Resources, in: Korea Petroleum Association Magazine, vol. 62, p. 50-57.
Google Scholar
HA S., 2012, Abuse of Sustainability, in: HERI Insight, vol. 6, no. 1, p. 1-25.
Google Scholar
KABC, Korea Audit Bureau of Circulation, 2011, The Number Of Daily Paper Copies Sold in 2010, http://www.kabc.or.kr/about/issuereference/241?param.page (4.02.2015).
Google Scholar
KANG K., 2000, 5-year Economic Development Plan: the Assessment of the Goal and Execution, Seoul National University Press, p. 90.
Google Scholar
KEEI, Korea Energy Economics Institute, 1991, Yearbook of Energy Statistics.
Google Scholar
KEEI, Korea Energy Economics Institute, 2002, Yearbook of Energy Statistics.
Google Scholar
KEEI, Korea Energy Economics Institute, 2011, Yearbook of Energy Statistics.
Google Scholar
KIM H., 2009, The History of Korean Energy Policy Regime, Ph.D. Diss., Korea University, p. 138-158.
Google Scholar
KIM J., 1998, The Political Economy of Energy Transition: An Institutional Approach, in: Journal of Environmental Policy and Administration, vol. 6, no. 2, p. 53-77.
Google Scholar
KIM P. and SAH D., 1998, Understanding and Concept-Forming of Sustainable Development, in: Korea Political Review, vol. 32, no. 4, p. 71-88.
Google Scholar
MARK, N., NOVARIK, W., 1996, Mass Media and Environmental Conflict: America's Green Crusaders. Sage, Thousand Oaks.
Google Scholar
MCIE, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, 2002, The Second Master Plan for National Energy (2002-2011).
Google Scholar
MER, Ministry of Energy & Resources, 1981, The Ministry of Energy & Resources: the keynote of energy policy, in: Korea Petroleum Association Magazine, vol. 11, p. 66-68.
Google Scholar
MER, Ministry of Energy & Resources, 1988, 10-Year History of Energy and Resources Administration, p. 23-45.
Google Scholar
MOON S., 1995, Ecological Strategy for Sustainable Society, Narasarang, Seoul.
Google Scholar
MOON T., 1997, Environmental Policy, Hyungseol, Seoul.
Google Scholar
MTIE, Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy, 1997, The First Master Plan for National Energy (1997-2006).
Google Scholar
MURPHY K., 2012, The Social Pillar of Sustainable Development: A Literature Review and Framework for Policy Analysis, in: Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 15-29.
Google Scholar
PAK M., 2011, Environmentalism Then and Now: From Fears to Opportunities, 1970-2010, in: Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 45, no. 1, p. 5-9.
Google Scholar
PARK C., 2004, Critical Understanding of Environmental Management, in: Yonsei Business Review, vol. 41, no. 1, p. 45-70.
Google Scholar
PCSD, Presidential Commission on Sustainable Development, 2007, On a survey of what people recognize about sustainable development, http://pcsd.pa.go.kr/board/download.php?db=bbs42&uid=40 (4.02.2015)
Google Scholar
PMO, Prime Minister's Office, 2008, The First Master Plan for National Energy (2008-2030).
Google Scholar
SKINNER Q., 2002, Visions of Politics Vol. 1: Regarding Method, Cambridge University, Cambridge.
Google Scholar
WCED. 1987, Our Common Future, Oxford University Press, New York.
Google Scholar
YUN S., 2002, Sustainable Development and Energy Policy in the 21st Century: The Need for Energy System Transformation and Desirable Directions for Energy Policy Change, in: Korean Public Administration Review, vol. 36, no. 2, p. 147-166.
Google Scholar
YUN S., 2008, Energy Alternatives in the Era of High Oil Prices and Climate Change: Focused on a Critical Analysis of the Third Master Plan for National Energy, in: Environment and Life, vol. 57, p. 126-147.
Google Scholar
YUN S., 2009a, The Ideological Basis and the Reality of Low Carbon Green Growth, in: ECO, vol.13, no.1, p. 219-266.
Google Scholar
YUN S., 2009b, The Problems of Green Growth and the Opposite Direction of Energy Policy, in: Environment and Life, vol. 60, p. 17-50.
Google Scholar
Authors
Kwang-Hoon BaekAlumnus Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy, KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Daejeon Korea, Republic of
Authors
Nakil KoAlumnus Master of Science Journalism Program, KAIST, Daejon Korea, Republic of
Statistics
Abstract views: 30PDF downloads: 14
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
