2 minute(s) · December 14, 2024
South Korean author Han Kang, renowned for her poetic prose addressing historical traumas and human fragility, was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first Asian female recipient of the honor.
South Korean author Han Kang was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature on Tuesday, December 10, during a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. The prestigious annual event is held on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, honoring the chemist and inventor’s legacy.
Announced in October, the Nobel Committee recognized Han for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” Her win follows a turbulent period in South Korea, marked by a brief declaration of martial law. Addressing the political unrest, Han expressed her shock and concern.
Han Kang first gained international acclaim with her novel The Vegetarian, which won the 2016 International Booker Prize. The book explores complex themes of identity, societal expectations, and the human body, captivating readers worldwide. Her other acclaimed works, including We Do Not Part and Human Acts, have surged in popularity following her Nobel Prize win, according to South Korean media.
Han Kang with her prize / Image: gulfnews.com
Born in 1970 in Gwangju, South Korea, Han is the daughter of novelist Han Seung-won. Her family later moved to Seoul, where she graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in Korean language and literature. Han began her literary career in 1993, publishing poems in the winter issue of the quarterly Literature and Society. The following year, her short story Red Anchor won a literary contest hosted by the Seoul Shinmun daily.
Renowned for her poetic and lyrical style, Han’s literary works address universal human issues and have carved a unique place in modern literature. Her notable publications include Yeosu, The Fruit of My Woman, Your Cold Hands, Black Deer, The Wind is Blowing, and Greek Lessons.
Han’s Nobel win makes her the first Asian female recipient of the literature prize and only the second South Korean Nobel laureate, after former President Kim Dae-jung, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000.
The Nobel Prizes, established by Alfred Nobel’s will, have been awarded annually since 1901, recognizing achievements in literature, science, medicine, economics, and peace. Esteemed past recipients in literature include Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling, Bernard Shaw, Albert Camus, and Gabriel García Márquez. In 2016, Bob Dylan became the first musician to receive the honor.
This year, the prize included an 11 million Swedish kronor (Dh3,671,623) award, to be shared equally among the laureates.
Han Kang accepts her prize / Image: koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
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