Grafton K. Mintz
Encyclopedia
Grafton K. Mintz was an American
copy editor who lived in Korea
.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 22, 1925, he graduated from Bucknell University
and later obtained a M.A. in English at Ohio State in 1953. Grafton and his wife Barbara come to Korea in 1962 on a Fulbright grant
to teach in Pusan at Pusan National University
. In 1970, he started working as an editor at the Korea Times
and also did some English language book editing. He is known for editing Ha Tae-Hung's English version of Samguk Yusa
and Han Woo-keun's The History of Korea. He died in Korea in 1983 and is interred at Yanghwajin Foreigners' Cemetery
in Seoul
.
Although sometimes he is credited with the translation of Samguk Yusa
, the actual translation was done by Professor Ha Tae-Hung. Despite some claims that he was the first Westerner ever to become a naturalized citizen of the Republic of Korea, in actuality, Grafton never changed his nationality. The claim actually goes to Father Kenneth E. Killoren
, a former Jesuit priest.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
copy editor who lived in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 22, 1925, he graduated from Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
and later obtained a M.A. in English at Ohio State in 1953. Grafton and his wife Barbara come to Korea in 1962 on a Fulbright grant
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
to teach in Pusan at Pusan National University
Pusan National University
Pusan National University is one of ten flagship Korean national universities and a leading university in South Korea...
. In 1970, he started working as an editor at the Korea Times
The Korea Times
The Korea Times is the oldest of three English-language newspapers published daily in South Korea, along with The Korea Herald and The JoongAng Daily. It is part of the same newspaper group as Hankook Ilbo, a major Korean language daily...
and also did some English language book editing. He is known for editing Ha Tae-Hung's English version of Samguk Yusa
Samguk Yusa
Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea , as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period.The text was written in Classical Chinese, which was...
and Han Woo-keun's The History of Korea. He died in Korea in 1983 and is interred at Yanghwajin Foreigners' Cemetery
Yanghwajin Foreigners' Cemetery
Yanghwajin , also known as the Hapjeong-dong International Cemetery, is a cemetery overlooking the Han River in the district of Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Designated in 1890 as a site for foreign missionaries by King Gojong, the site is currently open to the public from 9:00am to 6:00pm and is...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
Although sometimes he is credited with the translation of Samguk Yusa
Samguk Yusa
Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea , as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period.The text was written in Classical Chinese, which was...
, the actual translation was done by Professor Ha Tae-Hung. Despite some claims that he was the first Westerner ever to become a naturalized citizen of the Republic of Korea, in actuality, Grafton never changed his nationality. The claim actually goes to Father Kenneth E. Killoren
Kenneth E. Killoren
Kenneth E. Killoren was a former Jesuit priest who lived in Korea and the first president of Sogang University.He came to Korea in 1955 with Arthur Dethlefs, another Jesuit priest from Wisconsin. Killoren became the first president of Sogang in February 1960. He was also a contributing writer to...
, a former Jesuit priest.