Han Kang Becomes First South Korean to Win 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature

Oct 10, 2024, 11:10 AM

South Korean author Han Kang has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature. Han Kang is recognized for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life, according to the Nobel committee. Her major international breakthrough came with the novel 'The Vegetarian' (2007), which portrays the violent consequences when its protagonist refuses to conform to societal norms. Han Kang's work is characterized by a deep connection between mental and physical torment, as seen in her short story 'Europa' (2012) and the novel 'Human Acts' (2014), which is based on a historical event in Gwangju, where she grew up. Her latest work, 'Greek Lessons' (2023), depicts an extraordinary relationship between two vulnerable individuals. Han Kang began her literary career in 1993 with poems published in 'Literature and Society' and made her prose debut in 1995 with the short story collection 'Love of Yeosu'. She is the first writer from South Korea to receive this prestigious award. Deborah Smith translated and introduced Han Kang's works to English-speaking readers.