Why in the News?

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to South Korean author Han Kang for her powerful poetic prose that addresses historical traumas and reveals the vulnerability of human existence. Kang's deep empathy for intense life experiences is amplified by her evolving use of metaphor. She is the first writer from South Korea to receive this prestigious honor.

Han Kang

• A South Korean author known for her thought-provoking and poetic prose, often exploring themes of trauma, violence and the fragility of human life.
• Born in Gwangju, South Korea, in 1970, she initially studied Korean literature at Yonsei University.
• She began her writing career as a poet before moving into fiction, where she gained widespread acclaim for her intense and emotional storytelling.

Han Kang

Notable Works

• The Vegetarian (2007)
  • The story follows a woman who decides to stop eating meat, a choice that triggers a series of transformative events and affects those around her.
  • The novel delves into themes of individuality, autonomy, and societal norms, all set against a backdrop of surreal and often disturbing imagery.
  • It gained international recognition when it was translated into English and won the 2016 Man Booker International Prize.

The Vegetarian

• Human Acts (2014)
  • Set during the Gwangju Uprising of 1980, a pro-democracy movement that was violently suppressed, it tells the story of the event through multiple perspectives, each offering a deeply personal look at the impact of state violence and the search for justice.
  • The novel examines collective trauma and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression.

Human Acts

• The White Book (2016)
  • This book is a meditative exploration of life, death, and grief.
  • Structured as a series of poetic reflections, it is partly inspired by the loss of Han’s older sister, who died as an infant.
  • The book contemplates the color white as a symbol of both life and mourning, touching on themes of memory, loss, and the transient nature of existence.

The White Book

• Greek Lessons (2011; translated to English in 2023)
  • The novel follows the story of a young woman who loses her ability to speak and a Greek language teacher who is slowly going blind.
  • The two form an unlikely bond as they navigate their individual struggles with loss and identity.

Greek Lessons