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

Share this article

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

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Julie Andrews and The Penguin Win Big at Creative Arts Emmy Awards
1 MIN READ

Julie Andrews and The Penguin Win Big at Creative Arts Emmy Awards

Tom Hanks Award Ceremony at West Point Canceled Amid Controversies
1 MIN READ

Tom Hanks Award Ceremony at West Point Canceled Amid Controversies

Golden Lion Awarded to Star-Studded Drama Comedy at Venice Film Festival
2 MIN READ

Golden Lion Awarded to Star-Studded Drama Comedy at Venice Film Festival

New Season of Best in Test: Meet the Autumn Participants
1 MIN READ

New Season of Best in Test: Meet the Autumn Participants

AI to Recreate Lost Parts of Orson Welles' Film The Magnificent Ambersons
1 MIN READ

AI to Recreate Lost Parts of Orson Welles' Film The Magnificent Ambersons

Mark Volman of The Turtles Dies at 78
1 MIN READ

Mark Volman of The Turtles Dies at 78

Anthropic Settles AI Copyright Lawsuit with Authors for $1.5 Billion
1 MIN READ

Anthropic Settles AI Copyright Lawsuit with Authors for $1.5 Billion

Darth Vader's Lightsaber Auctioned for Over 34 Million Kronor
1 MIN READ

Darth Vader's Lightsaber Auctioned for Over 34 Million Kronor

Bruce Springsteen Releases Electric Version of Nebraska in New Box Set
1 MIN READ

Bruce Springsteen Releases Electric Version of Nebraska in New Box Set

Authors' Association Lifts Warning Against Hybrid Publisher Lava
1 MIN READ

Authors' Association Lifts Warning Against Hybrid Publisher Lava

David Bowie's Final Project: 18th Century Musical Unveiled in Exhibition
1 MIN READ

David Bowie's Final Project: 18th Century Musical Unveiled in Exhibition

The Stag Beetle Returns to Radio as a Classic Serial
1 MIN READ

The Stag Beetle Returns to Radio as a Classic Serial

Justin Bieber Releases New Album Swag II
1 MIN READ

Justin Bieber Releases New Album Swag II

Tunna blå linjen Christmas Special and New Episodes Announced
1 MIN READ

Tunna blå linjen Christmas Special and New Episodes Announced

Farnaz Arbabi Revamps Shakespeare's Comedy with Modern Twist
3 MIN READ

Farnaz Arbabi Revamps Shakespeare's Comedy with Modern Twist

Hugh Bonneville Calls for Gaza Action at Downton Abbey Premiere
1 MIN READ

Hugh Bonneville Calls for Gaza Action at Downton Abbey Premiere

Jireel Announces New Album Release for October 24
1 MIN READ

Jireel Announces New Album Release for October 24

SVT Dominates Kristallen Gala with Nine Awards
4 MIN READ

SVT Dominates Kristallen Gala with Nine Awards

Swedish Film "Without Kelly" Debuts at Venice Festival
3 MIN READ

Swedish Film "Without Kelly" Debuts at Venice Festival

Justin Bieber Teases New Album Swag II Release
1 MIN READ

Justin Bieber Teases New Album Swag II Release