South Korean poet and novelist Han Kang was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her impactful work that addresses historical traumas and the fragility of human life, AP News reports.
Han, the first South Korean and Asian woman to win this prize, is known for books like “The Vegetarian” and “Human Acts,” which explore the complexities of human pain and Korea’s turbulent past. Han’s writing often reflects South Korea’s turbulent history, including works based on the 1980 Gwangju Uprising and the Jeju Island massacre. She previously won the International Booker Prize in 2016 for “The Vegetarian,” a novel that examines the consequences of a woman’s decision to stop eating meat.
Han is the second South Korean laureate, following former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who won the Peace Prize in 2000. The Nobel Prize comes with a cash prize of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million), and the laureates will receive their awards in December.
