The Translator: Fireworks Expected in South Korea

It will be greatly celebrated in South Korea on the occasion of Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature, believes Anders Karlsson, who has translated her books into Swedish.

» Updated:

» Published:

The Translator: Fireworks Expected in South Korea
Photo: Ahn Young-joon/AP/TT

Share this article

This year's prize is the first to go to a South Korean author – which translator Anders Karlsson believes will be celebrated with "a lot of fireworks".

Karlsson, who did not have access to his mobile and therefore found out about this year's winner only later in the afternoon, has not been in contact with Han Kang after the Swedish Academy's announcement.

That she could be awarded a Nobel Prize, he has long had in the back of his mind – but that it happened already this year, he describes as a great surprise considering her relatively young age (54 years).

Anders Karlsson says that Han Kang's hallmark lies in her exceptional observational ability, which she manages to condense into a very precise language.

She is not afraid to, without prejudice, take on terrible things that have happened and delve into the psychology behind them. These are not easy books in that sense, but with her straightforward and direct language, she can talk about these things and make them accessible.

Tags

Author

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

More news

Opera Stopped by Nazis Debuts in Berlin with Norrköping Symphony

Opera Stopped by Nazis Debuts in Berlin with Norrköping Symphony

Jimmy Kimmel's Show Halted by ABC After Controversial Comment

Jimmy Kimmel's Show Halted by ABC After Controversial Comment

Jonas Brothers Return for New Camp Rock Film After 15 Years

Jonas Brothers Return for New Camp Rock Film After 15 Years

Korslagda Kukar Changes Name to Korslagda to Avoid Booking Issues

Korslagda Kukar Changes Name to Korslagda to Avoid Booking Issues

Gold Valued at Millions Stolen from Paris Natural History Museum

Gold Valued at Millions Stolen from Paris Natural History Museum

Norway Urges EBU to Address Israel's Eurovision Participation

Norway Urges EBU to Address Israel's Eurovision Participation

Jan Scherman Awarded Torgny Segerstedt's Freedom Pen for Democracy Work

Jan Scherman Awarded Torgny Segerstedt's Freedom Pen for Democracy Work

Jonas Sjöstedt Calls for Israel's Exclusion from Eurovision

Jonas Sjöstedt Calls for Israel's Exclusion from Eurovision

Melodifestivalen 2026 Tour Cities Announced for Next Year

Melodifestivalen 2026 Tour Cities Announced for Next Year

Hollywood Remembers Robert Redford: A Unique Talent

Hollywood Remembers Robert Redford: A Unique Talent

This Week's Films and Series: Dance and Drama Highlights

This Week's Films and Series: Dance and Drama Highlights

Cecilia Uddén Faces Criticism Over Middle East Book and Gaza Reporting

Cecilia Uddén Faces Criticism Over Middle East Book and Gaza Reporting

Julia Franzén's Film Debut in The Dance Club: A Brave New Role

Julia Franzén's Film Debut in The Dance Club: A Brave New Role

Man Arrested in Atlanta for Theft of Beyoncé's Unreleased Music

Man Arrested in Atlanta for Theft of Beyoncé's Unreleased Music

Court Denies New Trial for Menendez Brothers

Court Denies New Trial for Menendez Brothers

Swedish Filmmaker Lasse Westman Passes Away at 86

Swedish Filmmaker Lasse Westman Passes Away at 86

Måns Zelmerlöw Exits Masked Singer Panel for Upcoming Season

Måns Zelmerlöw Exits Masked Singer Panel for Upcoming Season

Camilla Läckberg's Fjällbacka Murders Adapted for Italian TV Series

Camilla Läckberg's Fjällbacka Murders Adapted for Italian TV Series

Meryl Streep and Jane Fonda Honor Robert Redford After His Passing

Meryl Streep and Jane Fonda Honor Robert Redford After His Passing

Robert Redford Passes Away: Iconic Actor and Director of the 70s

Robert Redford Passes Away: Iconic Actor and Director of the 70s