"Surprised to Find Myself Reading on the Way to Work"...Chinese Enthusiasts of Hangang [China Spotlight]

Chinese Media Focuses on Han Kang's Literary World
Hot Discussions on Han Kang's Works Also Trending on Chinese SNS

Novelist Han Kang signing a book. Photo by Yonhap News

Han Kang, the first Asian female writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, is also captivating China. Chinese media covered the news of her award along with analyses of her works. Fans who have read Han Kang's books are pouring out praise by posting reviews and impressions of her works on social networking services (SNS).

Flood of Reports and Analyses from Chinese Media

Books about the Han River translated into Chinese. Photo by Baidu.

Chinese media outlet Dazhongwang described Han Kang's works as "novels written for people gripped by sensitive emotions, secretly wounded individuals, and those who feel a blade between themselves and the world." It added, "She is a writer who reflects on the sadness and trauma of life at a fundamental level," and "her pen and ink are filled with the power to cover and explore wounds."

Professor Wei Dongyun of Shandong Normal University’s Humanities Department expressed in an interview with Dazhongwang that Han Kang’s Nobel Prize win is expected to enhance the popularity and influence of Asian literature. Regarding Han Kang, he said, "Her narratives are solid, her realistic insights are profound, and she skillfully embodies humanism," and "she offers readers a diverse, weighty, and poetic reading experience."

Professor Wei mentioned not only Han Kang but also Korean writers such as Jo Nam-joo, Kim Ae-ran, Choi Eun-young, and Gong Ji-young, stating, "The literary discussions on women's issues written by these authors have resonated not only in Korea but also in Chinese literature." He explained that Chinese readers were able to confront themselves through Korean literature within the broader context of East Asia. He added, "Korean female writers’ novels provide literary value as well as new perspectives and spaces for reflection to readers," which is "why the Chinese literary community is paying attention to Korean female writers."

Chinese Jiemian News interviewed translator Lu Hongjin, who translated the novel Do Not Say Goodbye and the poetry collection I Put Dinner in the Drawer, to explore Han Kang’s literary world.

Translator Lu said, "Whenever I translate or read Han Kang’s works, I always feel heavy-hearted and uneasy," and "I have read all of Han Kang’s works, but I still have not fully understood their profound meanings." He continued, "Compared to the themes and content, her writing style is quiet and calm, but Han Kang gives her characters kindness, courage, and the power to forgive," and "she delivers the message to readers that 'this must never be forgotten.'" Lu mentioned that Han Kang is from Gwangju and said, "It makes me believe that the subject chooses the writer, not the other way around," adding, "I feel that Korea’s painful history is still ongoing in reality."

Reading Rate 59.8%... Chinese Interest on SNS

A story about the Han River posted on Chinese SNS Weibo. Photo by Weibo capture

On Chinese SNS Weibo, various posts about Han Kang’s works have been shared. Discussions range from introductions to the author and reviews of her works to debates about the Chinese and Taiwanese translations. One netizen said, "I strongly recommend The Vegetarian. It was the most moving novel I read last year," and noted similarities in themes with Franz Kafka’s novel The Metamorphosis. He wrote, "The Metamorphosis tells the story of a person alienated in industrial society, while The Vegetarian tells the story of a woman isolated in a patriarchal society." Another netizen said, "I read Han Kang’s works on my way to work, and although it makes me angry, I empathize and even cry," adding, "I was surprised at myself for reading on the commute. It’s so engaging that it makes me forget the pain of going to work."

Among Han Kang’s works, The Vegetarian is so popular that it ranked first in 2021 on Douban, China’s book, movie, and drama rating platform’s annual "Bestseller" list. It has a rating of 8 out of 10, with 58,275 reviews as of the 18th. On Bilibili (China’s version of YouTube), there are several videos explaining Han Kang and her works. The most viewed video had 431,000 views as of the 18th.

Meanwhile, according to China’s "21st National Reading Survey Report" released in April, the reading rate among Chinese people last year was 59.8%. The average annual number of paper books read by Chinese adults was 4.75, slightly down from 4.78 in 2022. However, the average daily reading time per person for paper books increased to 23.38 minutes from 23.13 minutes in 2022. The average number of e-books read per adult was 3.4. The proportion of people using e-books or iPads for reading rose slightly to 80.3% in 2023 from 80.1% in 2022. The report stated, "12.3% of Chinese people read an average of more than 10 paper books annually, and 9.9% read more than 10 e-books annually."