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At the early morning event on the 11th held at the Gwangju City Hall Citizen Hall, attendees cheered and applauded as author Han Kang received the Nobel Prize in Literature during the "Han Kang Author Nobel Prize in Literature Award Celebration for Citizens." Photo by Gwangju City

The city of Gwangju held a “Citizen Celebration Event for Author Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature Award” at the City Hall Citizen Hall from 8 PM on the 10th to 1 AM on the 11th, in line with the Nobel Prize ceremony for author Han Kang.

The event, themed “A Letter from Gwangju,” was attended by about 500 people including Mayor Kang Gi-jung, City Council Vice-Chairs Seo Yong-gyu and Chae Eun-ji, Kim Gil-ja, mother of martyr Moon Jae-hak, May 18 organizations, literary groups, and citizens.

While waiting for the live broadcast of the award ceremony, citizens wrote handwritten letters to author Han Kang on site, enjoyed various performances such as the monodrama by theater troupe Sinmyeong, poetry plays, and jazz, fully savoring the “Time of Han Kang.” The letters written by citizens will later be compiled into a book and delivered to author Han Kang.

A citizen celebration event commemorating author Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature was held in the early morning of the 11th at the Gwangju City Hall Citizen Hall, where Dongho, the protagonist of the novel "The Boy Who Came," restored using artificial intelligence, delivered a congratulatory message. Photo by Gwangju City

In particular, the appearance of “Dongho (martyr Moon Jae-hak),” restored as an artificial intelligence (AI) hologram, attracted much attention. “Dongho” said, “I have come by the power of your memories. I am very grateful to author Han Kang and ‘The Boy Who Escaped.’” He added, “I was always by your side as you opened this book. Because my regret-free final life was being revived in the memories of readers. Along with the memories of May Gwangju, the boy Dongho will surely return,” delivering his congratulatory message.

At 12:49 AM on December 11, 2024, when the name of author Han Kang was announced as the Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, citizens responded with cheers and applause. Hundreds of citizens gave a standing ovation to author Han Kang.

While expressing concern about the current state of affairs, citizens unanimously said, “We gain strength from the comfort conveyed by author Han Kang.” Just as the young Dongho, the protagonist of ‘The Boy Who Escaped,’ firmly pulled his mother’s hand and walked toward the sunlight, the characters in Han Kang’s works, though wounded and seemingly broken, moved forward, and citizens spoke of “hope” without exception.

One citizen shared, “South Korea is now shrouded in tearful despair like a fog. I find hope in your writing, which murmurs like a soliloquy. If we look first at the people beside us, see the light, see hope, and love each other, perhaps our country will become like that too.”

A high school student said, “I first read ‘The Boy Who Escaped’ when I was in the first year of middle school. After finishing it, I was able to understand the pain of my parents’ generation, which was meaningful,” adding, “I hope no one will ever again be sacrificed to state violence.”

Mayor Kang Gi-jung said, “Author Han Kang said that wherever there is extreme human cruelty and dignity at the same time, the common noun ‘Gwangju’ applies. In Gwangju in 1980, there were the massacre perpetrator Jeon Du-hwan, citizens sharing rice balls, and Police Superintendent Ahn Byung-ha who protected the citizens. In South Korea in 2024, there is President Yoon Seok-yeol trampling the National Assembly, citizens embracing armed soldiers with their bare bodies, and soldiers hesitating before unjust orders. Past Gwangju is helping present Gwangju. This is also thanks to the story of Dongho in ‘The Boy Who Escaped’ that the author told us,” expressing his gratitude.

At the Gwangju City Hall Citizen Hall, where the citizen celebration event commemorating author Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature was held, members of the Gwangju Writers' Association are performing. Photo by Gwangju City

The “Christmas Swing Season 2” lighting up the plaza in front of the Gwangju City Hall also attracted many citizens. The “Bitgoeul Rainbow,” composed of about 1,200 dazzling lights pouring down like the Milky Way piercing the darkness, became a popular photo spot for citizens, adding to the festive atmosphere. Here, visitors can take memorable photos with proud figures of Gwangju such as author Han Kang, Nobel Peace Prize laureate President Kim Dae-jung, KIA Tigers player Kim Do-young, and Gwangju FC coach Lee Jung-hyo.

As part of a citizen-experience field demonstration, a metaverse experience was also enjoyed. It was organized with a youthful sensibility, including the creation of online and offline fan cafes, photo shoots using cameras followed by AR filter-enhanced photos, and a writing contest operated using receipt printers.

Meanwhile, literary critic Professor Shin Hyung-chul of Seoul National University gave a special lecture before the main event. In his lecture, Professor Shin said, “Someone had to unify the divided May 18 through distortion and disparagement, and ‘The Boy Who Escaped’ played that role. ‘The Boy Who Escaped’ combined author Han Kang’s outstanding ability with the emotions and strength of Gwangju, successfully fulfilling the role of mourning literature.”