Novelist Han Kang (54) became the first Korean to win the 'Nobel Prize in Literature,' sparking joy and a flood of congratulatory messages throughout the entertainment industry.
On the 10th (local time), the Swedish Academy announced Korean writer Han Kang as the winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, stating, "Han Kang's works confront historical trauma and expose the fragility of human life through powerful poetic prose."
They added, "Han Kang challenges historical trauma and invisible rules in her works, revealing the vulnerability of human life in each piece. She possesses a unique perception of the connection between body and soul, the living and the dead, and has become an innovator of modern prose with her poetic and experimental style."
This is the second time a Korean has received a Nobel Prize, following the late former President Kim Dae-jung, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. Han Kang is the 18th female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature and the second Asian writer to do so since Chinese author Mo Yan in 2012.
The historic award news was met with congratulatory messages across social media from the entertainment world. V, a member of the group BTS currently serving in the military, said, "Writer! I read 'The Boy Who Escaped' while in the army. Congratulations." RM, another member of the same group, also expressed his emotion with a tearful emoji while quoting Han Kang's award news.
Singer HYNN shared, "Before debuting, I was deeply moved by Han Kang's 'White.' Among the lines, 'Even if I become dirty, I will only hand over the white' resonated with me so much that I chose my stage name as 'HYNN' (White). No matter what hardships or wounds come, I vowed to create music with a sincere and pure heart."
She continued, "I was truly happy to hear about the writer's Nobel Prize in Literature today. I sincerely want to send my heartfelt congratulations. It is even more proud that a Korean work, through the writer's unique perspective and insight, has moved the world. Although I am a small singer who performs under a stage name influenced by the writer's work, I will always learn from her pure perspective and sincerity and continue making music."
Broadcaster and former announcer Kim So-young also said, "K-pop, content, K-food, K-beauty. Literature these days has been extraordinary. To witness Korean culture blooming so vividly in my lifetime is truly moving."
Actress Seolhyun, formerly of AOA, posted an excerpt from Han Kang's 'The Boy Who Escaped' saying, "What is a human? What must we do to not be what humans are?" to convey her congratulations.
Others joining the congratulatory parade included Kim Hye-soo, Bae Da-hae, Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Na-young, Ok Ja-yeon, Kim Min-ha, and Shin So-yul.
Han Kang, daughter of novelist Han Seung-won, was born in Gwangju in 1970 and graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in Korean Language and Literature. She debuted as a writer in 1993 by publishing the poem 'Winter in Seoul' in 'Literature and Society,' and in 1994, her short story 'Red Anchor' won the Seoul Shinmun New Year's Literary Contest, marking the start of her literary career. In 2016, she gained international recognition by winning the Man Booker International Prize, one of the world's top three literary awards, for 'The Vegetarian.'
She later received the Malaparte Literary Prize in Italy in 2017 for 'The Boy Who Escaped,' and the San Clemente Literary Prize in Spain in 2018 for 'The Vegetarian.' In 2019, she was awarded the 33rd Inchon Prize (Journalism and Culture category) for her literary contributions, and in 2023, she became the first Korean writer to receive the Medici Foreign Literature Prize, one of France's four major literary awards, for 'No Longer Human.'
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