The Word from the Husband That Changed 'Hangang's Mind About Not Having Children

"Summer Watermelon Is Sweet"... A Conversation That Reminds Us of Life's Joys

Han Kang (54), the first Korean novelist to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, has recently had her past anecdotes brought back into the spotlight. Recently, an online community has been buzzing about how Han Kang, who initially had no plans to have children, decided to have a child after a single remark from her now ex-husband.

Novelist Han Kang. [Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 13th, several online communities posted an article titled "The words that persuaded Han Kang, who did not want to have children." The post included excerpts from Han Kang's autobiographical novel "Silence," published in the 2000 Summer issue of Munhakdongne.

According to the novel, about two years after Han Kang got married, she had a conversation about having children with her then-husband, literary critic Hong Yong-hee, from whom she is now divorced. Han Kang expressed that she felt a sense of aversion to the possessiveness of wanting to fulfill unachieved dreams through her child's life, and that the approaching colors of the world appeared bleak. She also said, "When I see the cruel realities of life, I feel that people who have children without hesitation are irresponsible."

Her husband responded, "Isn't the world still worth living in? If so, isn't it wrong to let someone live even once?" Han Kang replied, "There are definitely beautiful moments in the world, and for now, it is worth living," but added, "Until the child reaches that thought, how will they get through the tunnel until then? Can they even get through it? It's not my share to live for them, so how can I make them go through those things again?"

To Han Kang's words, her husband asked, "There are so many delicious things in the world. Watermelon is sweet in summer, chamoe melon in spring, and water tastes sweet when you're thirsty. Don't you want to let them taste all that? Don't you want them to hear the sound of rain and see the snow?" Han Kang suddenly burst into laughter at her husband's words and confessed, "Even if nothing else, the fact that watermelon is sweet in summer felt like an undeniable truth. Thinking of the taste of red watermelon that crumbles like sugar, I lost my words at the end of my laughter."

Netizens who came across this anecdote responded with comments such as "The conversation between the couple is literary," "This is the power of literature," "I want to live savoring the beauty of life too," "This is life," "It's more touching because it's an unexpected part," and "Han Kang, who was negative about childbirth due to perceiving life as suffering, seems to have been reminded by her husband's words that there was genuine joy in her own life."

On the 10th, Han Kang became the first Korean to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. This was also the second Nobel Prize awarded to South Korea in history, 24 years after former President Kim Dae-jung received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. It is known that Han Kang received the news of the award just after finishing dinner with her son. In an interview with the Nobel Committee immediately after the award, Han Kang said, "I was really surprised, and tonight I will quietly celebrate with my son over tea."