“다양한 세계관 보여주는 게 삼국유사의 가장 큰 가치”

South Korean professor Remco Bruinsma, a Dutchman of Korean descent, has spent 16 years translating the ancient Korean historical text, "Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea," from its Korean original into English. The translation was completed in October of last year and published by Hawaii University Press under the title "Vestiges of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea."

Bruinsma, who had previously received degrees from Leiden University's Korean department in South Korea, completed his doctoral degree in 1998 at Leiden University for research on the Goryeo period.

The translation faces challenges such as conflicting narratives within the text and the difficulty of representing multiple worldviews within a single book. Bruinsma emphasizes that the value of the translation lies in showcasing the diverse perspectives of the time, rather than reducing it to a single narrative. He also notes that the translation process was made easier by the high quality of the professor's earlier work.

Bruinsma's translation is considered the first comprehensive scholarly rendering of the "Three Kingdoms" text, lacking any commentary. It is part of a series of Korean classics published by Hawaii University Press, supported by the Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation.