The Georgian Embassy in Seoul honored a scholar last week for translating a literary masterpiece and smoothing cultural exchanges between Georgia and Korea.

Georgian Ambassador to Korea Nikoloz Apkhazava bestowed Thursday the Presidential Order of Honor to Cho Ju-kwan, a professor of Russian language and literature at Yonsei University. Cho adapted into Korean “The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin,” a national treasure written in the 12th century by Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli.

Rustaveli was a pre-eminent poet of the Georgian Golden Age, which lasted from the late 11th to the 13th century. Epitomizing Georgia’s humanist and liberalist spirit, he is considered the country’s greatest writer, equal to the likes of William Shakespeare, Dante and Alexander Pushkin. 


The epic poem speaks of friendship, courage and love involving two Indian and two Arabic soldiers. Flush with Middle Age expressions, it also offers a rare glimpse into the languages, minds and habits of medieval Georgians and royalty.

Over 600 pages, the translation from Russian to Korean took over 10 years, with crosschecks from English and Japanese versions, according to Cho.

“What’s very interesting about this magnum opus is that its narrative structure is very similar to the popular Korean television drama ‘Descendants of the Sun,’” the professor told The Korea Herald, adding that both stories depict four warriors.

“I also learned that Georgia was frequently chronicled in ancient Greek and Roman mythologies. The Greek deity Prometheus is mythologically chained to a rock in the Kazbek Mountain of the Caucasus, and his liver is eaten alive by an eagle during the day, only to be regenerated at night.”


First printed in 1712 in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, the book -- often titled “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” -- has now been translated into 47 languages.

Commemorating the writer’s legacy, UNESCO designated 2016 as the year of Rustaveli. The book was given to former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by the Georgian envoy to the UN.

Georgia’s highest prize in art and literature is the Shota Rustaveli State Prize. One of Tbilisi’s main thoroughfares is Rustaveli Avenue and one can find theaters, academic institutions, subway stations, streets, squares, statues and schools named after Rustaveli throughout the country.

“What also surprised me during my translation was that ancient Georgia, an Orthodox Christian country to this day, was very tolerant toward other religions,” he said.

“The tale shows no prejudice against other religions from India and the Middle East, demonstrating that ancient Georgians were open and willing to converge their beliefs with others. The tome served as a moral guide for transcending excessive nationalism and parochial ethnocentrism.”


Noting that the author influenced many later generations of Georgian and Russian writers, Cho said 19th-century Russian romanticists Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) and Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841) found refuge and sanctuary in the Caucasus region, where they fleshed out their literary daydreams. Georgia’s stoic sierras and verdant valleys became timeless backdrops of their classic poems and novels.

Cho, who has traveled to Georgia, noted that Georgia is called the “Little Switzerland” of the Caucasus, with mountains soaring above 5,000 meters, picturesque lakes and gushing hot springs.

Georgia was recently chosen atop the “10 Hottest Travel Destinations of 2017” list by Vogue magazine. “The capital, Tbilisi, with its young, creative class and Brooklynesque undertones, has emerged as the hub of cool,” the magazine wrote, also noting its “exciting art, music and food scenes.”

An increasing number of Koreans are traveling to Georgia, attracted by its sulfuric baths, ski resorts and seaside resorts, historic attractions and cultural amenities. Georgia is also famous for its delectable gastronomies, which go well with its wines, the oldest in the world.

Harking back to literature, Cho stressed that he places “a lot of importance on translation,” calling it “the beginning of all communications.”

Mentioning author Han Kang’s novel “The Vegetarian,” which won the Man Booker International Prize last year through British translator Deborah Smith, the professor said Koreans’ perception of translation was improving.

“But we should not merely aim to win awards,” he underscored. “As Korea becomes a multicultural society, we should strive to know more about the world’s great literatures, so much of which has yet to be translated.”

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)