South Korean writer Han Kang has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy announced yesterday in Stockholm. Han Kang is the 18th woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, succeeding Norwegian Jon Fosse, who won last year.
The author studied Korean literature at Yonsei University in Seoul before working for three years as a journalist for magazines like "Publishing Journal" and "Samtoh". Her literary career began in 1993 with the publication of five of her poems, including "Winter in Seoul," in an edition of the magazine "Munhak-gwa-sahoe". She debuted as a novelist in 1994, winning the "Seoul Shinmun" Spring Literary Contest with the story "The Scarlet Anchor".
In 1995, she published her first book of short stories, "Yeosu". In 1998, she participated in the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa for three months, supported by the Korean Arts Council. Han Kang gained international fame after the publication of her novel "The Vegetarian" in 2007, which, after being translated into English, won the 2016 Man Booker Prize.
Currently, Han Kang teaches creative writing at Seoul University and continues to write short stories and novels, in addition to working on visual arts projects.
The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded since 1901, with the first recipient being French poet Sully Prudhomme. According to Alfred Nobel, who established the prize, it should be awarded to an author of any nationality who has "produced the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction" in the field of literature.
The prize has been awarded to 121 people, including 103 men and 18 women. It carries a monetary value of 11 million Swedish kronor, approximately 950,000 euros.
(By MozaVibe)
