Renowned South Korean author Han Kang has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life,” as stated by the Nobel committee on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
A Master of Poetic Prose
Han Kang’s works are known for their emotional depth and exploration of complex themes. The Nobel committee highlighted how her writing reflects “a double exposure of pain,” connecting mental and physical torment with philosophical influences rooted in Eastern thinking. Kang’s ability to draw parallels between personal suffering and broader historical traumas has cemented her as a significant voice in contemporary literature.
A Career Defined by Thought-Provoking Narratives
One of the key works cited by the Nobel committee is Han Kang’s 2012 short story, Europa. In this story, a male narrator, who disguises himself as a woman, becomes intrigued by an enigmatic woman who has left an unhappy marriage. The narrative, as described by the committee, presents profound questions of identity, desire, and unfulfilled aspirations.
Kang, 53, gained international acclaim when she won the International Booker Prize in 2016 for her novel The Vegetarian. The novel tells the unsettling story of a woman who decides to stop eating meat, a decision that triggers a series of catastrophic events for her and those around her. This exploration of human agency and the cost of personal choices helped Kang gain a global readership.
Nobel Prize in Literature: A Prestigious Legacy
Since its inception in 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded 116 times. Han Kang joins the prestigious list of laureates, becoming one of the few female authors to receive the prize — only 17 women have won it so far. The Nobel Prize in Literature honors authors whose work has had a significant impact on the world of literature, and Kang’s contribution to exploring historical trauma and human fragility fits perfectly within this tradition.
Other Nobel Laureates of 2024
The Nobel announcements began earlier in the week, with Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun winning the Nobel Prize in Medicine. In Physics, John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton were recognized for their groundbreaking contributions to machine learning. On Wednesday, David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their innovative methods to decode and design proteins.
Upcoming Nobel Prizes
The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday, followed by the Economics Prize on October 14. Each award includes a cash prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1 million), and laureates are invited to the awards ceremony on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
Han Kang’s recognition with the Nobel Prize in Literature underscores the profound impact of her writing and the universal resonance of her themes, making her a fitting recipient of this prestigious award.
