Eligible Applicants

• Overseas publishers that have acquired the rights and are planning to translate and publish works of Korean literature (novel, poetry, drama, YA novel, essay, webnovel, graphic novel(webtoon), screenplay, etc.) and humanities & social science in a foreign language

  ※ Overseas publishers should only apply once a publishing contract has been signed with the Korean publisher (or copyright holder) and translator.

• The following works (books) are not eligible for the program if they:

  1) are children’s picture books

  2) are expected to be published before the announcement date of the results

  3) have been previously published in the same language and whose copyright contracts have not expired

  4) are subject to disputes over intellectual property rights, including copyright

  5) are authored by individuals who have caused social controversy due to human rights or ethical issues (e.g., sexual assault, harassment, plagiarism, etc.)

  6) are submitted by a publisher whose applications for the same title have already been rejected more than twice in the previous application cycles.

  7) have not been published as a physical (print) book in the Republic of Korea as of the application submission date

When to Apply

• Four cycles per every year

  	1st Cycle	2nd Cycle	3rd Cycle	4th Cycle
  Application Deadline	January 31	April 30	July 31	October 31
  Announcement of Results	February 27	May 29	August 31	November 30

  ↔ Scroll left and right

  ※ Although applications are accepted year-round, overseas publishers should carefully review the schedule above and align it with their planned publication dates. Works expected to be published before the announcement of results will not be considered for a grant.

  ※ All dates and times are based on the Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications will automatically close after 24:00:00 KST. (Any applications submitted after this time will only be considered for the following cycle.)

  ※ Applications received after October 31 will only be reviewed the following year(1st cycle).

How to Apply

• Applications must be completed online through the LTI Korea KLWAVE platform (klwave.or.kr/) where applicants can fill out the relevant forms and submit all required documents (1. Publishing contract with the copyright holder and 2. Contract with the translator).

  ※ Applicants who do not already have a KLWAVE account will need to create one (User Type: Publisher).

  ※ Applications submitted by email, standard or express mail, telephone, or in person will not be accepted.

• Applicants will be notified of the results of their application directly through the KLWAVE platform.

Grants Details

• (By genre)

  Genre Types	Translation Grant
  Novels, YA Novels, dramas, essays(prose collections),  screenplays, humanities & social books	Between KRW 5.7 million and KRW 15 million
  Poetry	Between KRW 7 million and KRW 13 million
  Graphic Novel(Webtoon)	KRW 5.7 million * KRW 3.99 million if the original work is adapted from webtoon.
  Webnovel	Between KRW 3.99 million and KRW 10.5 million

  ↔ Scroll left and right

• (By language)

  Group	Languages	Translation Grant	Publication Grant
  A	English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, and Finnish	100%	KRW 4 million
  B	Russian, Chinese, Turkish, and other European languages	80% of Group A
  C	All other languages	60% of Group A	KRW 3 million

  ↔ Scroll left and right

  ※ The total amount of the translation grant will be determined by the length of the original work (which may be reduced if the length is significantly less). The overseas publisher will pay the translator directly if the translation grant is less than the translation fee that the publishers are required to pay, as stated in the translation contract between the translator and the publisher.

  ※ For graphic novels (based on Group A), webtoon-based titles are eligible for 70% of the applicable grant amount.

  ※ All grant payments will be issued in South Korean Won (KRW).

Selection Process

• Applications are checked for completeness and eligibility by LTI Korea staff.
• A selection committee composed of literature experts and professionals in the field of publishing will evaluate eligible applications based on the criteria below. (Committee membership changes regularly)

  Criteria	Weight	Details
  Literary Excellence	30	The literary quality and significance of the original work and the author to be translated.
  Publication Plan and Expected Impact	40	The feasibility, clarity, and effectiveness of the promotional and marketing plan for the work to be translated, as well as the quality and track record of the translator(s).
  Applicant Capability and Strategic Value	30	The overall profile and capacity of the applicant, including annual number of titles published, annual sales (units sold), author and translator payments, print runs, and related indicators; and the extent to which the publication contributes to LTI Korea’s strategy or serves as a bridge for introducing Korean literature to a third country or region.
  Total	100

  ↔ Scroll left and right

Post-selection Procedures

• • LTI Korea will sign an agreement for grants with the overseas publisher.
  • Upon receipt of the final manuscript and book cover from the publisher, LTI Korea will issue the translation grant to the translator in a lump sum payment.
  • Upon the book’s publication and receipt of complimentary copies from the publisher, LTI Korea will issue the publication grant to the publisher in a lump sum payment.
• ※ Required Number of Complimentary Copies
  

  	English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese	Others
  Fiction, Poetry	20 copies	10 copies
  Others	10 copies

  ↔ Scroll left and right

  ※ If translation fees have already been paid by the overseas publisher as per a prior agreement with the translator, all supporting documents, including proof of payment, must be submitted to LTI Korea.

  ※ Save for exceptional circumstances, requests for advanced, deferred, or installment payments will not be accepted.

Additional Notices

• Documents submitted online through the KLWAVE platform (klwave.or.kr/) will not be returned to the applicant.
• Books that have already received or are due to receive any type of financial support for translation or publishing costs from another institution will not be considered for an LTI Korea grant.
• Overseas publishers that have been awarded a grant must make note of LTI Korea’s support on the book’s copyright page upon publication. If the acknowledgement statement is not included on the copyright page of the initially published translated Work, the Publication Grant shall be automatically reduced by ten percent (10%), and LTI Korea shall remit the reduced amount to Publisher.
• Indirect translations of Korean works are not eligible for translation grants and will only be considered for publishing grants.
• Under Article 10.1 of LTI Korea’s Budget Management Guidelines, the selection committee reserves the right to disqualify any grant applications for works written by authors facing allegations of sexual abuse or harassment, plagiarism, or any type of social misconduct deemed unethical.
• The grant agreement must be finalized within one year of the announcement, or the grant may be subject to cancellation.
• The same publisher may receive up to two grants per quarter and a maximum of four grants per year.
• Overseas publishers that have published with the help of a grant must agree to report any sales information to LTI Korea and cooperate on all post-publication procedures.