미래가치를 창출하는 글로컬 산학일체 혁신대학
Han Kang and the Nobel Prize in Literature
By Lee Han-na Reporter, Junior of Chemical and Biological Engineering
“Koreans cannot win the Nobel Prize in Literature.” The main character, Na-young, from the movie ‘Past Lives’ left Korea with this belief. However, on December 10th, 2024, the first Nobel Prize in Literature winner from Korea was announced. After the announcement that Han Kang was awarded the Nobel Prize, readers flocked to the bookstores to buy her books, and all of her books sold out within six days. How did Han Kang become both the first Korean, as well as the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature? What is it about her work that moved readers all around the world?
Author Han Kang
In 1970, Han Kang, born in Gwangju City, is the daughter of the novelist Han Seung-won. She grew up in an environment where literature is at hand. After moving to Seoul with her family, she majored in the Department of Korean language and literature at Yonsei University to gain ground in literature.
Han Kang made her debut as a poet after graduating from university in 1993. She published four poems in the 24th issue of the quarterly magazine Literature and Society while also working as a journalist for a cultural magazine. The following year, in 1994, she officially debuted as a novelist when her short story titled 「Red Anchor」 won the Seoul Newspaper New Year’s Literary Contest. Since then, Han Kang has solidified her position in a Korean literature by publishing a variety of works, including 「Yeosu」, 「Fruits of My Woman」, 「Your Cold Hand」, 「Black Deer」, 「The Wind Blows, Go」, and others. In 2005, she won the Yi Sang Literary Award, one of Korea’s most prestigious literary prizes, marking the first record that a father and daughter had both received the award. Furthermore, in 2016, she gained international recognition as the first Asian author to win the Man Booker International Prize with 「The Vegetarian」. Continuing her global success, her 2021 novel 「I Do Not Bid Farewell」 made her the first Korean writer to receive the 2023 Prix Médicis étranger in France, as well as the Émile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature.
In addition to her writing, Han Kang taught fiction writing at the Creative Writing of the Seoul Institute of the Arts from 2016 to 2018. Her students described her as a professor with a “delicate yet intense sensibility.”
The Nobel Prize in Literature
In accordance with Alfred Nobel’s will, the Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to an author who has created works that present the most ideal direction in the field of literature. The prize not only recognizes outstanding literary quality but also considers the social messages that the writer has consistently conveyed through their works. The Swedish Academy, which decides the prize winner, stated that Han Kang was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical trauma and exposes the fragility of human life.” This recognition stems from her profound exploration of the body and mind, life and death, as well as her delicate portrayal of violence, wounds, and the process of healing. Han Kang has demonstrated an exceptional ability in combining historical events in Korea with personal experiences, transforming them into a universal human narrative through literature. She was reportedly having dinner with her son and enjoying an ordinary evening when she received news of the award, and was said to be taken aback by the unexpected announcement.
Representative Works
「The Vegetarian」: Can a person ever be completely innocent from violence?
「The Vegetarian」, which won the Man Booker International Prize, is a novel that raises fundamental questions about violence and human existence, portraying every character as a perpetrator of varying degrees of violence.
The novel is structured to depict the protagonist, Yeong-hye, through three different perspectives:
- Part 1: The Vegetarian – From the viewpoint of Yeong-hye’s selfish husband, this section portrays his discomfort as his wife unexpectedly declares her commitment to vegetarianism. Because of his expectation on her to remain ‘an unremarkable and obedient wife,’ he fails to understand her transformation, resulting in ultimately isolating her.
- Part 2: Mongolian Mark – This section explores the crossing of moral boundaries as Yeong-hye’s brother-in-law, an artist, becomes obsessed with her body under the pretext of art. His desire leads to another form of violence, exploiting her vulnerability.
- Part 3: Flaming Trees – The final section shifts to the perspective of Yeong-hye’s older sister, In-hye, who watches as Yeong-hye abandons her humanity, yearning to become a plant. Despite her concern, In-hye ultimately deems her as mentally ill and sends her to a psychiatric hospital, becoming another agent of violence.
“No one can understand me…… Doctors and Nurses are all the same…… They do not even try to understand…… Just giving medicines and injections.”
“Did Young-hye endure and move past the pain and sleepless nights that she is secretly having, at faster speed than most people?”
Part 3 naturally draws attention as it highlights the contrast between the two sisters, In-hye and Yeong-hye, in how they cope with violence and oppression despite growing up in the same household. Raised under a violent and patriarchal father, In-hye survived by conforming to his expectations and avoiding direct violence by being obedient. In contrast, Yeong-hye could not escape and fully absorbed the violence, experiencing it in its most direct and brutal form. In-hye represents a person who chooses to compromise with social expectations, appearing to live a relatively stable and untroubled life. However, as she observes Yeong-hye rejecting conventional norms and following her inner voice, she begins to recognize her lifelong submission to the social order. This realization forces her to confront the extent to which she has suppressed her desires and freedom in order to conform to social expectations.
This novel powerfully illustrates how defining others through language is, in itself, an act of violence. Yeong-hye is labeled as ‘the ordinary wife’ her husband desires, the ‘normal woman’ who does not deviate from societal prejudices, ‘the good daughter’ who obediently follows her father’s authority, and the ‘mentally ill person’ in need of treatment. However, her own will is never considered. Ultimately, 「The Vegetarian」 dissects the relationship between ‘the normality’ defined by society and the violence inherent within it, prompting readers to reconsider the meaning of violence and oppression.
「Greek Lessons」: What part of humanity is truly worthy of our attention and love?
「Greek Lessons」 is a novel that captures a fleeting moment in which a woman who is losing her ability to speak and a man who is gradually losing his sight, each living in solitude, come to encounter one another. As a child, the woman loses her ability to speak without any signs. Later, she experiences divorce and the loss of custody, sinking even deeper into silence. She eventually decides to learn Ancient Greek, a long-dead language no longer in use, and paradoxically finds comfort within it. The Greek teacher is a man who left his family in Germany and returned alone to Korea. As he gradually loses his sight, he descends further into darkness. One day, through a coincidence, these two people attempt to communicate in their own ways.
“Doesn't it feel strangely unsettling? The fact that our bodies have eyelids and lips. That they can sometimes close from the outside or be tightly locked from within.”
“When we eventually return the weakest, softest, and most lonesome thing we possess—our very life—to the material world, no cost will be given to us in return.”
The man’s story is told in the form of a letter to someone, telling his past. Through these letters, the reader learns about the love and pain he is carrying. He once loved a woman in Germany who had lost her hearing due to illness. At the time, he was gradually losing his sight, so he suggested using lip-reading as a means of communication. However, the woman could not accept this, and eventually, a violent incident occurred. Since they were unable to stay together, they went their separate ways, leaving the man with a deep and long-lasting wound.
The woman is losing her ability to speak, and the man is losing the light in his life, yet they communicate with each other in their own ways. The woman does not speak aloud, but she handwrites on the man’s palm with her finger or makes small gestures to signal her presence, letting him know she is here to listen. In response, the man assures that she is hearing him through her subtle reactions, gazes at her faintly visible figure in the darkness, and confesses his innermost thoughts. In the end, their connection is sustained by a new form of communication that transcends language itself. As the woman’s voice almost slips out once more, the novel comes to a quiet ending.
This novel explores how human beings can understand and connect with each other even though words and light gradually fade away. It suggests that we do not form relationships through each other’s strengths, but rather through our most vulnerable parts. Even without sight or speech, communication is possible. By accepting and revealing each other’s fragility, true understanding and love can emerge. Ultimately, the novel shows that love can become a source of resilience and hope in life.
「Human Acts」: Can the past help the present? Can the dead save the living?
「Human Acts」 is a novel set against the background of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, depicting the resistance of citizens against state violence and the long-lasting trauma that followed. The Gwangju Uprising was a democratic uprising led by the citizens of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, demanding the abolition of martial law, the establishment of a democratic government, and the resignation of Chun Doo-hwan and the new military regime. In response, the military government deployed airborne troops, brutally suppressing both ordinary citizens and armed civilian militias, resulting in a tragic number of casualties and victims. This event left the people of Gwangju with an unforgettable trauma. The novel intertwines multiple perspectives, portraying the overwhelming violence of the time while ultimately exploring human dignity and the pursuit of light in the face of darkness.
In the first chapter of the novel, Dong-ho, who witnesses the death of his friend Jeong-dae during the democratization movement, is addressed in the second-person pronoun ‘you.’ This chapter portrays his inner turmoil as he helps collect the bodies of the deceased and ultimately follows him through his final choice. Dong-ho’s death serves as a connecting thread to the characters introduced in the following chapters, compelling them to reflect pain, guilt, and the meaning of survival. The next five chapters shift perspectives to different individuals who faced the violence in Gwangju, and the final chapter is told from the perspective of Dong-ho’s mother, who has lost her son.
“Since I could not hold a funeral for you after you died, my life itself has become a funeral.”
“Yes, conscience. That is the most terrifying thing in the world. On the day I stood before the barrels of guns, pushing a cart loaded with the bodies of those the soldiers had shot dead, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people, I was startled to suddenly discover something pure within myself.”
Han Kang has shared what inspired her to write this novel, recalling how, as a child, she found the photo book of the Gwangju Uprising’s horrific scenes. The album contained images of bodies of the deceased and people standing in line to donate blood for the wounded. Confronting these images, Han Kang asked herself: “How can humans be capable of such extreme violence while also standing opposite such overwhelming violence?” She believed that to embrace a world where these dualities coexist, one must face the mystery of such contradictions. With this thought, she started on writing this novel.
Many readers express that reading this novel is a painful experience. However, at the same time, it allows them to stand within an unforgettable moment of history and confront the truth. Through 「Human Acts」, Han Kang does more than simply record the emotions of individuals caught in a historical tragedy. She demonstrates that the very act of reflecting on what we can do as readers in the present, can serve as a bridge between memory and the present, showing that remembrance itself has the power to bring about change.
Author Han Kang is a writer who has brought Korean literature to a global audience through her profound narratives and lyrical prose, exploring the human psyche, social violence, and the meaning of existence. Her works go beyond mere storytelling. They pose questions that linger, compelling readers to dwell on them and engage in profound contemplation. Han Kang’s unique style often makes her novels resemble poetry, leaving lingering impressions with every turn of the page. In 「The Vegetarian」, she examines personal resistance and societal oppression. In 「Greek Lessons」, she explores the warmth of language and relationships. In 「Human Acts」, she confronts historical trauma, the weight of memory, and fundamental questions about human existence. Through these works, Han Kang continues to expand the boundaries of literature, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of humanity.
Literature is not simply an object of analysis and interpretation. In Han Kang’s works, each word is imbued with vivid sensations and emotions, allowing readers to experience and interpret them in their own ways according to their own perspectives and experiences. Literature is not just about following a plot. It is about emotionally engaging with characters and situations, reflecting on one’s inner self, and through this process, awakening a new perspective of seeing the world. Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature invites more readers to engage with her works, reflect on the profound questions she raises, and discover new perspectives on life and society. Furthermore, this recognition is expected to draw greater attention to Korean literature, paving the way for its continued rise on the global literary stage.
References
Han Kang. The Vegetarian. Changbi Publishers, 2022.
Han Kang. Greek Lessons. Munhakdongne, 2011.
Han Kang. Human Acts. Changbi Publishers, 2014.
Han Kang. "Nobel Prize Lecture." NobelPrize.org, Nobel Prize Outreach, 27 Feb. 2025, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2024/han/lecture/.
Han Kang – Interview. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach 2025. Tue. 4 Mar 2025. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2024/han/interview/>
The Korea Times. "Korean Novelist Han Kang Awarded Nobel Prize in Literature." The Korea Times, 10 Oct. 2024, https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/culture/2024/10/135_384030.html.