Nobel Literature Prize Winner Han Kang's Work Comes to the Screen

Gwangju City to Hold Special Screenings of 'Vegetarian' and 'Scar'
On October 25 and November 5 at Gwangju Independent Cinema

Movie poster for The Vegetarian.
Photo provided by Gwangju City

The works of Han Kang, the first Korean and first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, will be available to experience on the screen.

On the 21st, Gwangju City announced that to commemorate Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature, two special screenings of films based on her novels, "The Vegetarian" and "The Scar," will be held twice on the 25th and November 5th at the Gwangju Independent Film Theater in Dong-gu, Gwangju.

In particular, on November 5th, a cine-talk program will be held after the film screening, providing an opportunity to discuss Han Kang's literary world and interpretations of the films.

"The Vegetarian" (2010), based on the novel of the same name which won the Booker Prize, tells the story of a woman who suddenly refuses to eat meat and declares herself a vegetarian. The work depicts the conflict between oppression stemming from domestic violence and human nature, and has been recognized for its artistic merit, including being invited to the Sundance International Film Festival.

"The Scar" (2011) is based on the novella "Baby Buddha." It portrays a precarious marriage between an emotionally dry woman and a man obsessed with perfectionism due to an indelible scar. The film is highly regarded for delicately expressing the hidden wounds and trauma within human beings, translating Han Kang's literary sensibility into cinematic language.

Kim Seong-bae, Director of Culture and Sports at Gwangju City, said, "This screening event will offer a special experience to those who love Han Kang's works," adding, "It will be a time to celebrate Han's literary achievements while deeply reflecting on the humanity and life themes her works present."