Han Kang has made history as the first South Korean author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the eighteenth woman to receive the prestigious award. Her 2016 novel, The Vegetarian, earned her the International Booker Prize, marking her as the first Korean recipient of that honor as well.
At 53 years old, Han is recognized as the 121st laureate of this esteemed accolade, which was established by Alfred Nobel to honor authors whose literary contributions have been particularly notable. The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded since 1901.
Critic Leland Cheuk noted that Han Kang has garnered a substantial readership globally, describing her work as “unsettling” and “transgressive.” Her novel Greek Lessons tells the story of a woman who has lost her voice and an instructor losing his sight, highlighting a poignant belief in the redemptive nature of love. Cheuk compared the reading experience to a moving indie film that evokes deep emotions.
The Swedish Academy praised Han for her “intense poetic prose,” stating that she confronts historical traumas and illuminates the fragility of human life. They emphasized her unique ability to intertwine themes of life and death, as well as the connection between body and soul, all demonstrated through her innovative style.
In a past interview with NPR, Han expressed her desire to explore themes of human violence and the potential for resistance through her writing. She hopes that readers share in her inquiries.
Han Kang joins the ranks of legendary authors like Ernest Hemingway, Toni Morrison, and Gabriel García Márquez. In recent years, the Nobel Prize in Literature has seen limited diversity, with only seven authors of color honored between 2000 and 2023, contrasting sharply with the more varied selections of the 1980s and early 1990s.
Leading up to the announcement, Chinese writer Can Xue was considered a strong contender, with bookmakers predicting her chances based on her recent work. Other notable authors were also in the running, showcasing the competition for this prestigious award.