As the translator of Han Kang’s novel "The Vegetarian," a 28-year-old British woman will equally share the honor and prize money worth 50-thousand pounds or 86 million won. 

Fascinated by "The Vegetarian," Deborah Smith translated some of the novel and sent it to the publishing company Portobello, introducing the South Korean novelist to the British literary society.
 
Major British media outlets emphasized Smith's highly judged translation mirroring the style and beauty of the original work, reporting that she began studying Korean only six years ago and had to look up nearly every word in a dictionary for the first draft translation.

The Man Booker International Prize is awarded both to the original author and translator in recognition of the significant role translators play in introducing books written in foreign languages to English-speaking readers.   
 
Smith has also translated Han's "A Boy is Coming," and the works of other South Korean writers, including Ahn Do-hyun's "Salmon" and Bae Su-ah's "An Essayist’s Desk."