News of Han River Nobel Literature Prize Win
Alma Mater Yonsei University Also Sends Congratulations
In 2017, author Han Kang (Class of '89, Department of Korean Language and Literature) gave a special lecture titled "Yun Dong-ju and Me" on the 100th anniversary of Yun Dong-ju's birth at Yonsei University's College of Liberal Arts. [Yonsei University archival photo]
Novelist Han Kang (54) became the first Korean writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, prompting her alma mater Yonsei University to extend congratulations through its official account.
On the 10th, Yonsei University posted an article titled "Novelist Han Kang (Department of Korean Language and Literature, Class of '89) Becomes the First Korean Writer to Win the Nobel Prize in Literature" on its official Naver blog account. The university stated, "Han Kang (Yonsei University Department of Korean Language and Literature, Class of '89) is the first Korean to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature," adding, "The Swedish Academy cited Han Kang's 'poetic prose confronting historical wounds and exposing the vulnerability of human life' as the reason for selecting her as the laureate."
It continued, "Han Kang became a globally recognized author in 2016 when she won the Man Booker International Prize, the first Korean to do so. Her representative works, The Vegetarian and Human Acts, are now bestsellers and steady sellers read by the entire nation." The university also noted, "In 2017, Han Kang gave a special lecture titled 'Yun Dong-ju and Me' at Yonsei University's College of Liberal Arts to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Yun Dong-ju's birth."
Political Circles Join in Unison to Congratulate
The news of Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature sparked congratulatory voices across political parties. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, wrote on Facebook, "We celebrate the Nobel Prize in Literature that healed the turbulent modern history through literature together with the people," adding, "I hope this brings great comfort to the citizens enduring difficult lives."
Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, posted on Facebook, "I first encountered Han Kang not through her books but long ago as a host of EBS audiobooks. I still occasionally listen to her calm and deliberate voice, which I really like," and congratulated her by saying, "Today, I will happily listen to the EBS audiobook files hosted by Han Kang. Such a day has come."
Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, who is on a visit to Kazakhstan, shared on Facebook, "I heard the news of Han Kang's Nobel Prize while in Kazakhstan," expressing, "She has brought great joy and pride to our people. This is a moment to be remembered for a long time, a historic moment."
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