Celebrated South Korean author Han Kang has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her “intense poetic prose” that delves deeply into human frailty and historical traumas, News About Nigeria reports.
Known internationally for her novels ‘The Vegetarian’, ‘The White Book’, ‘Human Acts’, and ‘Greek Lessons’, the 53-year-old’s work is acclaimed for exploring themes like violence, grief, and the human experience.
In a press statement following the announcement, Mats Malm, the Swedish Academy’s permanent secretary, shared that Kang was in the midst of an ordinary evening with her son when she received the unexpected news.
While initially taken aback, she has already begun making plans for the Nobel ceremony in December, where she will formally receive her prize.
Kang is the first South Korean and the first female Asian writer to win the Nobel in Literature.
Her novels and essays frequently explore complex topics, such as patriarchy and the endurance of the human spirit amid historical trauma.
In 2016, her internationally acclaimed novel ‘The Vegetarian’ earned her the International Booker Prize.
Literary figures worldwide have commended Kang’s achievement, with British author Deborah Levy calling her “one of the most profound and skilled writers of our time.”
Max Porter, the editor of the English version of ‘The Vegetarian’, described her as “a writer of extraordinary humanity.”
Born into a literary family on November 27, 1970, Kang’s early exposure to the literary world came from her father, novelist Han Seung-won.
Her career began with poetry in 1993, eventually leading to her first novel, ‘A Love of Yeosu’, in 1995.
Her artistic endeavours extend beyond writing as she has explored music and visual arts, including a 2007 music CD alongside her essay book ‘Quietly Sung Songs’.