South Korea's Han Kang wins Nobel Literature Prize

Han Kang, a celebrated author from South Korea, has recently been awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature. At 53 years old, she is well-known for her novel The Vegetarian, which previously earned her the Man Booker International Prize in 2016. During the award ceremony, she was commended for her 'intense poetic prose' that addresses historical traumas and highlights the fragility of human existence. The Nobel Prize has been awarded since 1901, and this marks the 18th occasion a woman has received this honor. Han Kang will be awarded 11 million krona, which is approximately £810,000. Han Kang is the first South Korean author to win this esteemed prize. The Nobel Prize committee described her as someone who has 'devoted herself to music and art. ' They noted that her literary works traverse various genres, delving into themes such as violence, grief, and the dynamics of patriarchy. A significant turning point in her career occurred in 2016 when her novel The Vegetarian was translated into English, although it was originally published nearly a decade earlier. The story portrays the violent repercussions faced by a woman who chooses to reject societal norms regarding food consumption. In addition to The Vegetarian, Han has authored several other notable works, including The White Book, Human Acts, and Greek Lessons. At the ceremony, Mats Malm, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, remarked that Han was 'not really prepared' for the win. Committee chair Anders Olsen emphasized that her writing confronts historical traumas and the invisible societal rules that govern our lives. He praised her 'poetic and experimental style' and referred to her as 'an innovator in contemporary prose. ' He further highlighted her unique understanding of the connections between the body and soul, as well as the living and the dead. Han Kang is the first female recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature since 2022, and she is also the first female laureate this year. The Nobel Prize is awarded for a body of work rather than a single piece, making it notoriously difficult to predict who will win. Han is the daughter of novelist Han Seung-won and was born in Gwangju, South Korea. She moved to Seoul at a young age and pursued her studies in Korean literature at a local university. Her literary journey began with the publication of five poems in 1993, followed by her debut in fiction the next year with a short story. Han has also taught creative writing at the Seoul Institute of the Arts and is currently working on her sixth novel. Her works have been translated into over 30 languages. Last year's prize was awarded to another distinguished author, and previous winners include renowned figures such as Toni Morrison, Doris Lessing, Kazuo Ishiguro, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Bob Dylan.