South Korean author Han Kang has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, a prestigious recognition for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life,” according to the Swedish Academy. The prize, worth 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.1 million), celebrates her contributions to contemporary literature, marking her as one of the most important voices in global fiction.
Born in Gwangju, South Korea, in 1970, Han Kang hails from a literary family. Her father, a noted novelist, greatly influenced her early literary pursuits. She began her career in 1993, publishing a series of poems in a South Korean magazine, but her prose debut came in 1995 with a collection of short stories.
BREAKING NEWS
The 2024 #NobelPrize in Literature is awarded to the South Korean author Han Kang “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” pic.twitter.com/dAQiXnm11z— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 10, 2024
Han’s work often explores the delicate connections between mental and physical suffering, drawing upon the rich traditions of Eastern philosophy. According to the Nobel committee, “Han Kang confronts historical traumas and invisible sets of rules, exposing the fragility of human life in her works. Her unique awareness of the connections between body and soul, and the living and the dead, has made her an innovator in contemporary prose.”
ALSO READ: John Hopfield, Geoffrey Hinton get 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics
Her novel The Vegetarian (2007), which gained international recognition after being translated into English, is one of her most celebrated works. The book explores themes of violence, self-control, and the human condition, portraying the inner turmoil of a woman who decides to stop eating meat, a choice that spirals into a harrowing exploration of her psyche.
Han Kang’s literature is often regarded as emotionally intense, poetic, and experimental. The Nobel Prize committee emphasized that her works reflect the deep complexities of human life and suffering, making her a vital and transformative figure in modern literature.
This award not only places Han Kang among the world’s literary elite but also shines a light on South Korea’s rich literary heritage, making it a moment of pride for the nation and the global literary community.
