Nobel Literature Prize Winner Han Kang's Works... Rejected by Military Units, Here's Why?

Failed in the 2019-2021 Jinjoong Book Selection Process
Military: "Jinjoong Book Considers Strengthening Soldiers' Mental Resilience"

It has been revealed that major works by Han Kang, the first Korean to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, including 'The Vegetarian,' have repeatedly failed to enter military units.

These works were repeatedly rejected in the selection process for Jinjoong Books, which are stocked in military unit libraries or barracks, likely due to the specific purpose of Jinjoong Books to "cultivate soldiers' mental strength."

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 14th, three works by Han Kang?'I Will Not Say Goodbye,' 'The Boy Who Escaped,' and 'The Vegetarian'?were submitted multiple times between 2019 and 2021 to the Ministry of National Defense's Psychological Warfare and Cultural Materials Review Committee, which selects Jinjoong Books. The review committee consists of one director-level official and external civilian members, who independently review and select Jinjoong Books.

Although Han Kang's three works were automatically included in the review as they appeared on bestseller lists, none were ever selected as Jinjoong Books. The reasons for exclusion are unknown due to lack of related materials, but a military official explained that the focus of Jinjoong Books is on strengthening soldiers' mental resilience.

While the review mainly targets bestsellers widely read by the public, books dealing with social issues or containing high levels of explicit content are generally rejected without exception during the review process. Military insiders and related parties said it is highly likely that Han Kang's works did not pass the unique criteria of Jinjoong Books.

A military official stated, "Regardless of the literary value of the books, it is necessary to consider the unique characteristics of Jinjoong Books, which are intended specifically for soldiers in the military."