South Korean literary giant Hwang Sok-yong has recently shared that he employed ChatGPT as an assistant while writing his new novel titled 'Halmae.' This collaboration reflects a significant shift in the creative processes traditionally reserved for humans, as AI technology begins to play a considerable role in the development of narratives and historical contexts. Hwang’s experience symbolizes a broader trend wherein artificial intelligence encroaches upon creative spheres, particularly in literature, where the essence of authorship is being transformed.

Translation has been one of the most affected fields by generative AI technologies, with literary translation—once regarded as an intricate craft that melded linguistic fluency and deep cultural understanding—now witnessing a rapid shift. The recent blind test conducted by the Korean Literature Translation Institute showcased that many English faculty members rated translations done by ChatGPT higher than those by human translators. This revelation has stirred debate over what constitutes quality in literary translation, suggesting that AI is altering standards and perceptions surrounding this specialized labor.

Despite the gains brought by AI, there remain domains of writing that resist full automation. Acclaimed science fiction author Ted Chiang posits that the uniqueness of artistic creation stems from the myriad choices and life experiences shaped by human existence, which AI cannot replicate. Similar sentiments apply to translation, where nuances and unexpressed emotions often require human insight. This need reinforces the value of human translators, whose abilities to discern subtle complexities ensure the authenticity and emotional depth in literary works, thereby highlighting that while AI can assist, it cannot wholly replace the human touch in writing and translation.