Fri Oct 11 08:03:25 UTC 2024: ## South Korean Author Han Kang Wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature
**Stockholm, Sweden** – South Korean author Han Kang has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first South Korean writer to receive the prestigious honor. The Swedish Academy announced the winner on Thursday, citing Han’s “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.”
The 53-year-old author, known for her exploration of trauma and loss in her works, was reportedly surprised by the news, having just finished dinner with her son. “I’m so surprised and honored,” Han said, adding that she planned to celebrate “quietly” with a cup of tea and her son.
The Nobel committee praised Han’s “physical empathy for the vulnerable, often female lives” of her characters. Her lyrical prose, they noted, is “both tender and brutal” and has established her as an innovator in contemporary prose.
Han’s work delves into themes of trauma, pain, and loss, both individual and collective, with a focus on the connection between body and soul. Notable works include “The Vegetarian,” which explores the consequences of a woman’s decision to stop eating meat, and “Human Acts,” a powerful novel confronting the 1980 Gwangju Massacre in South Korea.
Han is the 18th woman to win the Nobel Literature Prize, a category historically dominated by men. The last woman to win was Annie Ernaux of France in 2022. The prize comes with a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million), along with a medal that will be presented on December 10.
Born in 1970, Han began her writing career in 1993 with poetry and transitioned to prose in 1995. Her father, Han Seung-won, is a renowned novelist, adding to her literary background.
Han’s win marks the second time a South Korean has been awarded a Nobel Prize. The late former President Kim Dae-jung won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his work towards democracy in South Korea and improved relations with North Korea.
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