South Korean Author Han Kang Receives Nobel Prize in Literature for Her ‘Powerful Poetic Writing’
STOCKHOLM—South Korean author Han Kang has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature Thursday for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.
Nobel committee chairman Anders Olsson praised Han for her physical empathy for the vulnerable, often female lives of her characters.
“She has a unique awareness of the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead, and in a poetic and experimental style, has become an innovator in contemporary prose,” Olsson said.
Nobel Literature Committee member Anna-Karin Palm stated that Han writes intense lyrical prose that is both tender and brutal, and sometimes slightly surrealistic as well.
Han is the first Asian woman and the first South Korean writer to win the Nobel Literature Prize. She is also the second South Korean national to win a Nobel Prize, following late former President Kim Dae-jung who won the Peace Prize in 2000.
Han’s win comes at a time of growing global influence of South Korean culture, with successes in films, TV dramas, and music groups like BTS and BLACKPINK.
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Han, 53, received the International Booker Prize in 2016 for “The Vegetarian,” a disturbing novel questioning human existence.
When receiving that award, Han mentioned that writing novels is a way of questioning for her, delving into the complexities of humanity.
Her works delve into themes of humanity and belonging, exploring the human experience in unique ways.
She made her debut as a poet in 1993 and has since published several acclaimed works that have been translated into English.
Olsson praised “Human Acts” as a significant work of witness literature based on real events in Gwangju in 1980.
The Nobel Literature Prize has often been criticized for its Eurocentric focus, with Han being a notable example of expanding the prize’s diversity.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner will be announced on Friday, followed by the Economics Award next Monday.
The prize includes a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor and is given to recipients who have made exceptional contributions in various fields.
