Nobel Prize winner Han Kang only aspires to live in peace and tranquility

In her first public appearance after the announcement that she won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, South Korean writer Han Kang said that she hopes her life does not change drastically after this recognition, and assured that she has always connected with the world. through my writings; I want to continue finding readers that way..

At an event in Seoul, where he was awarded the Pony Chung Innovation Award in recognition of his deep exploration of the human psyche and his evocative emotional expressions, which have resonated with readers around the worldthe author pointed out that the week in which her Nobel was announced will remember her as a deeply moving experiencereported the newspaper The Korea Herald.

In a speech he gave this Thursday at the Pony Chung Hall in the South Korean capital, Kang recalled that when he received the call from the Nobel Committee it did not seem real to him. I just tried to stay calm. It wasn’t until I saw the news that I realized the seriousness of the moment.

Above all, he extended his gratitude to those who expressed their concern for the peace of mind in his personal life after receiving the highest distinction, and he reflected on his 30-year career, where he highlighted the simplicity of his daily life: I don’t drink and recently even gave up coffee for health reasons. I rarely travel. Sometimes people ask me what I do for fun..

He added that he likes to walk, read books that he has not yet read and spend time with his family and close friends, but what he enjoys most It’s the time I spend thinking about the ideas I have in mind for my next novel..

Kang, who turns 54 on Nov. 27, commented on the conventional wisdom that an author’s golden years are between their 50s and 60s.

If that’s true, I have six years left. Although some authors remain active until they are 70 or 80 years old, a lot of luck is required. For now I want to focus on completing the three books I have in mind, with patience and perseverance, while balancing the rest of my life.

On October 10, the day it was announced that Kang would receive the Nobel Prize, the poet also urged her father not to celebrate because we are in the midst of these tragic events (referring to the wars in the Middle East and the Ukrainian-Russian conflict). The Swedish Academy did not give me this award for us to enjoy, but to keep us more lucid.

During this week, Han offered an interview with the Swedish public television network SVT, in which he reiterated that he does not want to be the center of attention at this time: I would like to live in peace and tranquility and I need some time to reflect on what this award means.

The Swedish network reported that the interview took place at Han Kang’s home in Seoul, and was conducted in English. In that talk, the also winner of the British International Booker Prize, in 2016, for her novel The vegetarian, He announced that he is about to finish a novel and is preparing his Nobel acceptance speech.

I heard I have to write an essay for the ceremony. After finishing my novel, which I hope will be this month or in the first two weeks of November, I would like to write the essay to read at the ceremonyhe detailed.

Record sales

Since the Swedish Academy announced the Nobel Prize for Kang, local bookstores in Korea reported that more than a million copies of the author, the first South Korean to be awarded the highest recognition for literature, have been sold.

The announcement of the prize generated a sensation in South Korea and the websites of bookstores, as well as publishers, collapsed as thousands of people tried to buy their books.

There is unprecedented sales of Han Kang’s books. It’s something never seensaid Kim Hyun-jung, spokesperson for Kyobo Bookstore.

The store online Aladin indicated that the sale of the writer’s books multiplied by 1,200 compared to the same period last year, and also promoted the purchase of works by other South Korean authors.

(With information from AFP)