▲ South Korean novelist Han Kang won the Nobel Prize in Literature (Source: Business Post)

South Korean novelist Han Kang has been honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature. On October 10, the Swedish Academy announced that this year’s winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature went to, “The South Korean author Han Kang.” Her Nobel Prize is the first for an Asian writer in 12 years since Chinese author Mo Yan in 2012. In addition, she is the 18th female author throughout the world and the first Korean writer who achieved this prestigious achievement.

Han Kang grew up in a literary environment from a very young age. Her father, Han Seung- won, a well- known novelist in Korea, mentioned in a past interview with the media: “I sometimes feel surprised and even jealous when I read sentences written by her,” highlighting his daughter’s talent. Han Kang, a graduate of Yonsei University’s Department of Korean Language and Literature, began her career as a poet. She made her debut as a novelist when her story ‘Red Anchor’ won the Seoul Shinmun Spring Literary Contest, being recognized as one of the most promising novelists through her diverse body of work. In 2016, she won the Booker International Prize for her novel ‘The Vegetarian,’ gaining an international reputation. Following that, in 2017, her work ‘Human Acts,’ which deals with the Gwangju Uprising, won the Italian Malaparte Literary Prize. Furthermore, ‘We Do Not Part,’ which covers the tragedy of the Jeju 4·3 Incident, received the prestigious French Medici Prize, one of the top four literary awards in France. Through her unique writing style, Han Kang gained a significant following, casting a poignant limelight on the exploration of South Korea’s painful history.

The Swedish Academy explained the selection of Han Kang as this year’s Nobel Prize winner in Literature, stating it was for her, “intense poetic prose that confronts historical trauma and reveals the fragility of human existence.” They further added, “Han Kang confronts historical trauma and invisible domination head- on in her works, revealing the fragility of human life. She possesses a unique understanding of the connection between body and soul, as well as between the living and the dead, making her an innovator of modern prose with her poetic and experimental style.”

She conveyed her thoughts through her father that she would not hold a press conference to celebrate her Nobel Prize, expressing her sorrow over the ongoing deaths of many people due to the wars in Russia and Ukraine, as well as in Israel and Palestine. Instead, in a phone interview with the Nobel Committee, she stated, “I’m very surprised and truly honored.” She added, “I received the news right after finishing dinner with my son. I’d like to quietly celebrate tonight with a cup of tea with my son,” in a calm reflection on her award.

Contrary to her reaction, a so- called ‘Han Kang phenomenon’ is sweeping through South Korea. Following her Nobel Prize in Literature award, there has been a constant queue of citizens searching for her novels, leading to ongoing sellouts in both large and local bookstores. The bookstores in Gyeongsangnam- do have also intensified. At Grand Mun- go in Yongho- dong, Changwon, novels like ‘The Vegetarian,’ and ‘Human Acts,’ quickly sold out immediately upon opening. At the end of October, eight of the top ten bestsellers at Kyobo Bookstore in Changwon, were works by Han Kang.

Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature is not only a remarkable achievement that has imprinted an impression of Korean literature on the world, but also a moment that reaffirms the power of Korean culture and arts beyond the language barriers. The Literature Translation Institute of Korea, which supported the translation of her works, remarked, “This award is a fruition of our continuous efforts to introduce Korean literature to the world and a symbolic moment that proves Korean literature is inspiring readers around the world,” reflecting on the significance of this recognition. As director Bong Joon- ho once said at the Golden Globe Awards, “If you can overcome the one- inch barrier of subtitles, you will be able to enjoy so many more films,” we can find that beyond the barrier of ‘language differences,’ there are exceptional works waiting to be discovered. It is expected that in the future, more Korean literary works will be translated into various languages, communicating deeply with readers around the world and playing a significant role in showing the excellence of Korean literature.

By Kim Han-seul, reporter  hozejunior@naver.com

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