South Korean author Han Kang has made history by becoming the first South Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The prestigious award recognizes her work, which is characterized by the correspondence between mental and physical torment as well as historical events. Kang’s book “The Vegetarian” was translated into English and won the Man Booker Prize in 2016.
Kang was honored with the Nobel Prize “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life,” said the Swedish Academy. This is a significant recognition for the author, who has been criticized for her powerful and poignant writing style.
The Nobel Prize in Literature has undergone significant changes since the #MeToo scandal in 2018, vowing to be more global and gender-equal. The Academy has honored four women writers, including Han, since the scandal, along with three men. This shift is reflective of the Academy’s commitment to recognizing talent from diverse backgrounds and promoting a more inclusive literary world.
The Nobel Prize comes with a diploma, a gold medal, and a $1 million prize sum. Han will receive the award from King Carl XVI Gustav in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of scientist and prize creator Alfred Nobel.
Kang’s win is not only a significant recognition of her literary talent but also a milestone in the global literature scene. It marks a new chapter in the Academy’s efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in literature. The Nobel Prize in Literature is considered one of the most prestigious awards in the literary world, and Han’s win is a testament to her dedication to her craft and her ability to connect with readers worldwide.
