Han Kang receives the Nobel Prize: "In the midst of her life's work"

Han Kang is awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Literature. She is the first South Korean author to be awarded the prize by the Swedish Academy – and one of the youngest at 53 years old. Often the prize goes to older authors, which is entirely natural. But this year, we have chosen to reward an author who is in the middle of her life's work, says Academy member Ellen Mattson.

» Published: October 10 2024

Han Kang receives the Nobel Prize: "In the midst of her life's work"
Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Traditionally, the Academy's permanent secretary Mats Malm announced to a gathered press corps at the Stock Exchange Building in Old Town who will be awarded this year's literature prize – the somewhat unexpected name Han Kang. The Academy's motivation reads:

"For her intense poetic prose, which confronts historical traumas and exposes human vulnerability".

Made her debut 30 years ago

Ellen Mattson, who sits on the Nobel Committee, tells TT that it felt right to highlight Han Kang's authorship this year. And that despite her relatively young age, she already has a substantial bibliography behind her.

She has been at it for a long time. You can mistake it, but she debuted over 30 years ago and has published very many books, even if not everything has been translated yet.

Han Kang was born in 1970 in Kwangju, South Korea. She began her career in 1993, but the major international breakthrough came with the novel "The Vegetarian" which was published in 2007. In it, the violent consequences are depicted when the main character Yeong-hye decides to no longer eat meat.

Last year, the novel was staged as a play at Dramaten. Then, the choice not to include actors of Asian origin was criticized.

According to the Swedish Academy, it is characteristic of Han Kang's authorship "the double exposure of pain, where there is a correspondence between mental and physical suffering with deep connections to Eastern thinking". The Academy also describes her as a "renovator of prose".

"No thought behind it"

The Academy has been criticized for awarding the prize predominantly to male authors, but in recent years, it has been alternating between women. Last year, the prize went to Jon Fosse, the year before to Annie Ernaux.

There is no such thought behind it, even if I can understand that it looks that way. But there is nothing that prevents it from being two women in a row in the future, says Ellen Mattson.

What do you recommend to start reading by Han Kang?

I think you should start with "Living and Dead", which is about the Kwangju massacre. And then continue with "I Don't Say Goodbye", which came out this year. There, she works beautifully and poetically with the theme.

Born in 1970 in Kwangju, South Korea, but moved with her family to Seoul at the age of nine.

Began her career by publishing poems, her prose debut came in 1995 with "Love for Yeosu".

The major international breakthrough came with the novel "The Vegetarian" which was published in 2007.

Works in Swedish: "The Vegetarian", "Living and Dead", "The White Book", "I Don't Say Goodbye". (All published by Natur & Kultur publishing house.)

Tags

TTT
By TTTranslated and adapted by Sweden Herald

More news

Mike Peters of The Alarm Dies at 66
1 MIN READ

Mike Peters of The Alarm Dies at 66

TV4 Responds to Zelmerlöw's Drug Admission with Strong Disapproval
1 MIN READ

TV4 Responds to Zelmerlöw's Drug Admission with Strong Disapproval

Influencer My Martens Shares Nine-Year Stalking Ordeal in New Documentary
1 MIN READ

Influencer My Martens Shares Nine-Year Stalking Ordeal in New Documentary

Swedish Academy Honors Petra Mölstad with 2025 Literary Prize
1 MIN READ

Swedish Academy Honors Petra Mölstad with 2025 Literary Prize

Björn Ranelid to Officiate Weddings at Gothenburg Book Fair
1 MIN READ

Björn Ranelid to Officiate Weddings at Gothenburg Book Fair

New Season of Barracuda Queens Premieres June 5 on Netflix
1 MIN READ

New Season of Barracuda Queens Premieres June 5 on Netflix

Florence Pugh Discusses Thrilling Stunt in Marvel's "Thunderbolts"
3 MIN READ

Florence Pugh Discusses Thrilling Stunt in Marvel's "Thunderbolts"

Finance Duo Seeks Love on Bachelor This Summer
1 MIN READ

Finance Duo Seeks Love on Bachelor This Summer

Måns Zelmerlöw Opens Up About Past Cocaine Use and Divorce
1 MIN READ

Måns Zelmerlöw Opens Up About Past Cocaine Use and Divorce

Alexander Payne to Chair Venice Film Festival Jury
1 MIN READ

Alexander Payne to Chair Venice Film Festival Jury

Technical Museum Opens New Math Branch in Stockholm
1 MIN READ

Technical Museum Opens New Math Branch in Stockholm

National Archives Complete with Älvdalen Church Records on Witch Trials
1 MIN READ

National Archives Complete with Älvdalen Church Records on Witch Trials

1.3 Million Viewers Watch Charlotta Kalla's Surprise Exit on TV
1 MIN READ

1.3 Million Viewers Watch Charlotta Kalla's Surprise Exit on TV

Klas Östergren's New Novel "The Jewel" Explores NATO and History
1 MIN READ

Klas Östergren's New Novel "The Jewel" Explores NATO and History

Kim Kardashian Robbery Trial Begins in Paris with Elderly Defendants
2 MIN READ

Kim Kardashian Robbery Trial Begins in Paris with Elderly Defendants

Maja Ivarsson Announces 22-Stop Summer Tour Across Sweden
1 MIN READ

Maja Ivarsson Announces 22-Stop Summer Tour Across Sweden

Outcasts and Cyndi Lauper Join Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
1 MIN READ

Outcasts and Cyndi Lauper Join Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Mauri and Morberg Travel Show Unlikely to Return for Second Season
3 MIN READ

Mauri and Morberg Travel Show Unlikely to Return for Second Season

Francis Ford Coppola Honored with AFI Lifetime Achievement Award
2 MIN READ

Francis Ford Coppola Honored with AFI Lifetime Achievement Award

Julian Marley to Honor Bob Marley's Legacy with Sweden Concerts
1 MIN READ

Julian Marley to Honor Bob Marley's Legacy with Sweden Concerts