김수행의『자본론』번역: 의의와 개역 과정상의 특징

Soohaeng Kim’s Translation of Marx’s Das Kapital:

이 글은 김수행의『자본론』 번역이 갖는 의의와 개역 과정상의 특징들을 분석한다. 먼저 이 글은, 전문 학자에 의한 최초의 책임 번역이라는 점과 최초출간 이후 꾸준히 개역되었다는 것을 김수행 『자본론』의 핵심적인 의의로 본다. 또한 보다 쉽게 마르크스의 생각을 가능한 많은 독자에게 전하겠다는 옮긴이의 의지가 두 차례에 걸친 고된 전면개역을 가능케 했다고 주장한다. 이 과정에서 노출된 한계와 향후 『자본론』 번역이 지향할 바에 대해서도 언급한다.

This paper analyses the significance of Soohaeng Kim’s translation of Marx’s Das Kapital, and some characteristics observed in the process of his repeated retranslation. Firstly, this paper establishes that his translation is significant in that it is the first Korean translation of Das Kapital whose translator bears academic credential and responsibility; and that it was repeatedly modified since the initial publication. Kim always wanted to make Marx’s thought available through his translation as easily as possible, and to as many people as possible, which we would argue was the main reason he embarked upon the hard work of complete retranslation twice in 25 years. Comments are also to be made with regard to some limitations of his translation, and possible future translations.