Nobel Prize 2024: Han Kang, a 53-year-old South Korean fiction writer, has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.
A Groundbreaking Author
Han Kang is the first South Korean to win the prestigious award, recognized for her innovative and experimental style. Her works explore themes of violence, grief, patriarchy, and the human condition.
Notable Works
The Vegetarian (2007): A novel about a woman's refusal to submit to societal norms, exploring the consequences of her choices.
The White Book (2016): A meditation on life, death, and the human experience.
Human Acts (2014): A novel delving into the 1980 Gwangju Uprising and its aftermath.
Greek Lessons (2011): A exploration of language, identity, and human connection.
Nobel Committee's Praise
Anders Olsen, chair of the Nobel Committee, praised Han Kang's "unique awareness of the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead." Permanent secretary Mats Malm noted that Han Kang's win was unexpected, even to herself.
Awards and Recognition
- Nobel Prize in Literature (2024)
- Man Booker International Prize (2016) for _The Vegetarian_
- Awarded 11m krona (£810,000) as part of the Nobel Prize