This paper investigates the portrayal of the Korean peninsula in Arabic periodicals from 1880 to 1920, with a particular emphasis on the role of translated articles authored by foreign travelers. During this period, these translated accounts became vital conduits for introducing Korea to Arab audiences, as they provided some of the earliest and most significant insights into Korean culture, society, and geography at a time when direct engagement was minimal.

Utilizing Erving Goffman's frame analysis methodology, this study closely examines the narratives constructed by these translations and how they framed perceptions of Korea within the broader context of the geopolitical dynamics existing at the time. The research indicates that the representation of Korea in Arab media was significantly influenced by the relationships and interests of countries like Japan and Russia, which had established connections with the Korean peninsula. This influence often led to portrayals that aligned with the political agendas of these nations, coloring how Arab readers understood Korea.

Moreover, the translated articles often emphasized aspects of Korean culture and history that resonated with Arab audiences, creating a narrative that celebrated certain qualities of Korea while omitting others. As a result, the study highlights the importance of these early translations in shaping the foundational views of Korea in the Arab world, as they laid the groundwork for further cultural exchanges and literary adaptations in the years that followed.

Through the lens of Goffman's frame analysis, this paper elucidates the mechanisms by which these texts not only informed but also shaped the perceptions of the Korean peninsula in Arabic literary and cultural discourse. By focusing on this transformative period, the research underscores the critical significance of translation in facilitating cross-cultural understanding and establishing initial connections between Korea and the Arab world, which would evolve into more robust diplomatic and cultural relations in subsequent decades.

Thanks to the Internet, the Hallyu wave has spread throughout the Arab world. In this context, South Korean literature has captivated Arab readers by offering them a fresh perspective on the aesthetics, life, and culture of the Korean people. The translation of Korean novels into Arabic has been increasing year after year and, in a short time, has surpassed that of certain European languages, such as Italian. Considering that the Nobel Prize serves as a significant indicator of Arab translators' interest in foreign literatures, this trend is likely to continue following the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Literature to South Korean novelist Han Kang in October 2024.

This promising situation has motivated me to study the movement of contemporary Korean novel translation into Arabic, aiming to provide an overview of the translations completed so far and to highlight the factors that promote and ensure the success of aesthetic and cultural interaction between South Korea and the Arab world in this field.

To analyze this emerging phenomenon within the Arab cultural context, I will attempt to answer the following questions:

• What genres of Korean fiction are being translated?

• Who are the translators, in the Bermanian sense of the term, responsible for bringing Korean literature closer to Arab readers? Are they all Arab translators, or are there also Korean translators who specialize in Arabic? In the case of Arab translators, do they translate directly from the original language, or do they rely on an intermediary language?

• Which Arab publishing houses are committed to promoting Korean literature, and for what purpose? Are these independent publishing houses, or do they receive support from Korean institutions?

World literature recognizes the contribution of all cultures on the basis of equality. However, the discourse on literary theories, the history of ideas, and the literary awards system more often than not reflect a centering around Western literature. Arab readers, not unlike the majority of the reading public around the globe, have generally turned to European and Western literature, with a growing interest in Latin American literature after Gabriel Garcia Marquez won the Nobel Prize for Literature. However, a few decades ago, Korean literature attained maturity and emerged independent of the European models, critical theories, and literary trends that dominated the Korean literary scene in the middle and late 20th century. Modern Korean giants like Han Kang captivated readers worldwide with their esquisite style, provoking social critiques and literary prowess. In the Arab world, the number of literary works translated from Korean into Arabic has increased significantly especially since 2001 (Yi Sang, Min Jin Lee, Choi In-ho). In this context, this paper seeks to explore the reception of South Korean literature in the Arab world, especially the reception of Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature and her translated works into Arabic (The Vegetarian 2007, Human Acts 2014, and The White Book 2016).

Thus, the research will study the forms of cross-cultural and literary relations between Korea and the Arab world with reference to the aesthetic specificities characterizing the culture of each. The research will explore two complementary factors that have contributed to the celebratory reception of Arab readers of Korean literature, namely, the awareness of a mutual belonging to the East, in the broadest sense, and the surprise of discovering the uniqueness of South Korean literature which makes it quite distinct from western culture.

The researcher, adopting a descriptive-analytical method, will collect and compile electronic responses from the reading public and critical circles found on digital articles that constitute the sample of the study. The researcher classified these responses according to their causal, geographical, and cultural nature. The researcher relied on two main axes which are as follows:

1. A descriptive study of the electronic Arab reactions: forms and nature.

2. An analytical study: explicit and implicit discourses.