Abstract

This study examines Kim Ki-chang’s The Life of Jesus through Andrew Walls’ translation theory. Just as God was translated into human form in 1st-century Palestine, Kim translates biblical figures into Joseon dynasty social roles to express spiritual hierarchy. Kim translates Jesus as a yangban with a halo, symbolizing divine authority. Peter appears first as a commoner but later wears yangban attire as he follows Jesus, reflecting spiritual transformation. Kim also creates historical distance by placing his biblical scenes in the peaceful Joseon era rather than the wartime Korea he lived through. Notably, Kim used his own face in painting Peter sinking in the waves, expressing his personal anguish over the Korean War while preserving a distance. Although Kim’s portrayal of the stories of Jesus Christ had limits due to Joseon class structure, it was a creative and bold attempt to translate the Christian narratives into a Korean visual idiom, thereby deepening their relevance and offering a distinctly Korean interpretation that resonates beyond their original setting.