South Korean Novelist Han Kang Wins Nobel Prize in Literature

 

South Korean author Han Kang has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life." The 53-year-old novelist, known for works such as The Vegetarian, The White Book, Human Acts, and Greek Lessons, is the first South Korean to win the prestigious honor.

Following the announcement, Swedish Academy's permanent secretary, Mats Malm, revealed that Han was caught off guard by the news. "She had just finished supper with her son," he said, adding that preparations for the December award ceremony had already begun. In a phone interview shared by the Academy, Han expressed her surprise and gratitude: “I’m so honored. I grew up with Korean literature, and I hope this news brings joy to Korean literature readers and my fellow writers.”

The announcement of her win caused a stir in South Korea, with online bookstores crashing due to a surge in traffic. Government hearings were also briefly halted as officials cheered the news. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol praised Han’s achievements, stating, "You have transformed the painful wounds of our modern history into great literature."

Han’s body of work explores themes such as patriarchy, violence, grief, and human resilience. Her 2007 novel The Vegetarian, translated into English by Deborah Smith in 2015, won the International Booker Prize in 2016 and brought her global recognition. Han's empathetic portrayal of vulnerable lives, particularly women, has been widely celebrated. Nobel Committee chair Anders Olsson described her prose as "metaphorically charged" and praised her innovative approach to contemporary literature.

Many prominent authors and literary figures have expressed admiration for Han. Novelist Deborah Levy called her "one of the most profound and skilled writers on the contemporary stage," while Max Porter, who edited the English translation of The Vegetarian, described Han’s work as a "gift to us all."

Born in Gwangju in 1970, Han studied Korean literature at Yonsei University and made her literary debut in 1993. Her works have since garnered international acclaim, and her upcoming novel We Do Not Part is set to be released in English in 2025. It will delve into the impact of the Jeju uprising on a family, continuing Han’s exploration of historical trauma.

With this Nobel win, Han Kang joins the ranks of some of the world’s greatest literary minds. As Eimear McBride, a fellow novelist, remarked, “She is a voice for women, for truth, and for the power of what literature can be.”