The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to South Korean writer Han Kang, recognized for her poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human existence. Born in Gwangju on November 27, 1970, Han Kang has established herself as one of the most powerful literary voices of contemporary times, deeply exploring themes such as pain, violence and identity.
Han Kang. Ill. Niklas Elmehed. Nobel Prize Disclosure
From an early age, his life was marked by change when his family moved to Suyuri, Seoul. This transfer, which occurred when he was ten years old, influenced his training and literary development. He studied Korean literature at Yonsei University, where he began to shape his artistic sensibility and his particular approach to the human condition. His literary career took off in 1993, when he published a series of poems in the magazine Munhak-gwa-sahoe (Literature and Society), among which “Winter in Seoul” stands out. The following year, he won the Spring Literary Contest of the Seoul Shinmun with his story Red Anchorand quickly positioned himself as an important figure in the South Korean literary scene.
With his first collection of stories, Yeosu (1995), Han Kang began a prolific career that includes numerous novels, short stories, and poetry. His work is characterized by his ability to intertwine the poetic with the narrative, creating deeply moving texts that challenge the reader to confront violence, suffering and human vulnerability. In The Vegetarian (2007), Han Kang explores the limits of the body and social control in a story that won him the Man Booker International Prize in 2016. A powerful statement about resistance in the face of oppression, this novel has been praised for its original approach. and his literary sensibility.
Another of his most important works is Human Acts (2014), which addresses the tragic Gwangju Uprising of 1980, an event that left deep scars on South Korea’s recent history. Through different voices, the author breaks down collective and individual trauma, creating a narrative that exposes the complexities of pain, memory, and the search for justice. This type of narrative, which explores the limits of what is bearable, has become one of Han Kang’s hallmarks.
Throughout her career, Han Kang has been recognized with numerous literary awards, both in South Korea and internationally. Among them, the Malaparte Prize in 2017 stands out for Human Acts and the San Clemente Prize in Spain in 2019 for The Vegetarian. In addition, she was selected to participate in the project Future Library in 2019, an initiative that will preserve her unpublished work until 2114, reflecting her status as one of the most important authors of her time.
In 2023, his most recent novel, I Do Not Bid Farewellwon the Medici Prize in France, consolidating his presence in European literature. In 2024, this same book was awarded the Émile Guimet Prize, another important recognition in Han Kang’s career, which celebrates his ability to cross literary and cultural borders.
The Nobel Committee has highlighted that Han Kang’s work confronts historical traumas with poetic prose of unique intensity. His texts are a testament to the transformative power of literature, which not only reveals the depths of human experience but also allows readers to reflect on the fragile and often painful condition of life. Han Kang’s ability to fuse the aesthetic with the brutal, the poetic with the political, has allowed him to create a body of work that resonates with global audiences.
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature not only recognizes his undoubted talent, but also his courage to explore the darkest corners of history and the human condition. Through his work, Han Kang has constructed a narrative that transcends his cultural background to connect with readers around the world, offering a window into understanding pain, memory, and survival.
