South Korea Gets On the Board For the Nobel Prize
By Jack Nevins
South Korean writer Han Kang has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, which makes her the first South Korean to receive the very prestigious and rare honor. Han’s writing often dives into themes of trauma, pain, and the human condition. The Nobel committee praised her for her “intense poetic prose” that confronts historical traumas and explores the real aspects of human life. Han has been an established figure in South Korean literature since the 1990s, but her international acclaim surged after she won the Booker International Prize in 2016 for her novel The Vegetarian.
Han’s works are unsettling, yet they allow the reader to think deeper about the writing while exploring heavy subjects like violence and suffering. Her novel Human Acts, for instance, tackles the violent 1980 Gwangju Uprising in South Korea. Critics like Leland Cheuk have noted how Han’s writing “tugs little by little at your heartstrings,” especially in works like Greek Lessons, where she explores themes of communication and loss.
When asked about her reaction to winning the Nobel, Han expressed great surprise and honor. She shared that she was at home in Seoul with her son when she received the news. In an interview, she reflected on how connected she feels to the tradition of literature “All their efforts and strengths have been my inspiration.”
In Han’s latest novel, We Do Not Part, builds on her thematic exploration of loss that follows a trajectory from her earlier works like The White Book, which was autobiographical in nature, and The Vegetarian, which is her most recognized novel across the globe. The Swedish Academy’s recognition of her work highlights her ability to confront both personal and historical traumas with grace and lyricism. For readers new to Han Kang’s work, she recommends starting with her most recent books, most notably, We Do Not Part. Han’s writing challenges readers to reflect on difficult subjects, yet it carries a deeper emotional meaning with an even redemptive experience.
