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Who is Han Kang, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature?

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KAZI ABUL MONSUR , Journalist#

The female writer Han Kang created a stir in Korea by writing some extraordinary literature.In line with life, there was no less drama with all his extraordinary creations. Gradually the popularity of his writings spread throughout the world. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature this year. Who is Han Kang?

Han Kang, the South Korean writer, won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” This recognition highlights her unique narrative style and her focus on difficult themes, such as human suffering, existential questions, and historical trauma. One of her most notable works, The Vegetarian, explores the alienation and identity crisis of a woman who decides to stop eating meat, which serves as a metaphor for societal oppression and personal rebellion. Her works often confront South Korea’s tumultuous history, including the trauma from the Korean War and the Gwangju Uprising, while examining individual vulnerability in the face of such large-scale events

Han Kang’s personal life is relatively private, though some details are known. She was born in 1970 in Gwangju, South Korea, and is the daughter of novelist Han Seung-won. Her early years were shaped by the traumatic Gwangju Uprising of 1980, which profoundly influenced her later works that often deal with historical violence and personal suffering.

Han studied Korean literature at Yonsei University and later attended the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa. Her literary career began with poetry, but she soon transitioned to fiction. She gained international recognition for her novels, especially The Vegetarian and Human Acts, which deal with themes of trauma and the human condition.

Han Kang has spoken openly about her struggles with periodic migraines, which she has described as humbling. In recent years, she has become a more prominent figure globally, being selected for various literary awards and recognition programs. Despite her success, she maintains a low-profile personal life and focuses on her writing. In 2023, she became one of the writers elected to the Royal Society of Literature as an International Writer. She has also contributed to the Future Library project, handing over a manuscript that will remain unread until 2114​.

The Vegetarian (2007)
The Vegetarian is a three-part novel that explores themes of personal rebellion, societal oppression, and the struggle for autonomy. The protagonist, Yeong-hye, decides to stop eating meat after experiencing disturbing dreams. Her decision, though deeply personal, causes turmoil in her relationships with her family and society. The novel is divided into three sections, each told from the perspective of a different person closely connected to Yeong-hye: her husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister.

Part One, Yeong-hye’s decision to become vegetarian alienates her from her family, especially her abusive husband. This section delves into the oppressive dynamics of gender and societal expectations.

Part Towe, Her brother-in-law, an artist, becomes obsessed with her decision and her body, culminating in a troubling, exploitative relationship. Part Three: Her sister, the final narrator, reflects on the consequences of Yeong-hye’s actions and the deterioration of her mental health. The novel grapples with themes of self-destruction, autonomy, and the body as a site of rebellion.

The Vegetarian won the Man Booker International Prize in 2016, praised for its exploration of the constraints of societal norms and the fragility of the human psyche.

Human Acts (2014)
Human Acts is a powerful, harrowing novel centered on the Gwangju Uprising of 1980, a violent student-led protest in South Korea that was brutally suppressed by the military. The novel opens with the story of Dong-ho, a young boy caught in the massacre, and spans multiple voices and time periods to explore the impact of the event on survivors and the collective memory of trauma. Part 1, The novel begins with Dong-ho’s perspective as he searches for his friend’s body in a chaotic, makeshift morgue during the uprising.
Subsequent sections shift between different characters—survivors, families of the deceased, and even the voice of a corpse—each reflecting on their experiences and the lingering scars of the massacre. Themes: Human Acts explores the brutality of state violence, the complexities of memory, and the emotional and psychological aftermath of historical trauma. It examines how individual and collective memory grapples with atrocity and the attempts to heal from violent, repressive regimes.Human Acts is a profound meditation on the cost of political violence and the human desire for dignity and justice, drawing from Han Kang’s own history, as her family lived in Gwangju during the time of the massacre.

The Vegetarian is a psychological drama that follows a woman’s radical choice to stop eating meat, leading to her mental and physical unraveling. The novel highlights themes of autonomy, gender roles, and societal pressures. Human Acts delves into the painful events of the Gwangju Uprising of 1980 in South Korea, depicting the emotional and physical toll of violence and repression on ordinary citizens. Her ability to combine personal and collective trauma with poetic prose has earned her both national and international recognition, culminating in this prestigious award​.

In addition to The Vegetarian and Human Acts, Han Kang has written several other notable works that showcase her exploration of trauma, identity, and human nature:
1. The White Book (2016)
This is a meditative and poetic novel that reflects on grief, loss, and the color white. Inspired by the premature death of her older sister, who died two hours after birth, The White Book contemplates life, death, and the memories associated with loss. Each chapter examines various objects and concepts related to whiteness (like snow, breast milk, and shrouds), creating a reflective and deeply personal narrative. The book blends prose, poetry, and memoir, and was shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize in 2018.

2. Greek Lessons (2011)
Greek Lessons follows two protagonists: a woman losing her voice and a man losing his sight. The novel explores themes of language, communication, and human connection. Both characters struggle with loss—of language, physical ability, and emotional intimacy—and the novel navigates their internal worlds as they form a deep, wordless bond. The book delves into the complexities of human relationships and the barriers of language.

3. The Fruit of My Woman (2000)
This earlier work by Han Kang is a short story that explores the transformation of a woman who, feeling suffocated by her domestic life and her husband’s expectations, slowly turns into a plant. The surreal and symbolic narrative touches on themes of bodily autonomy, identity, and rebellion against societal roles.

4. Your Cold Hand (2002)
This novel portrays a sculptor who grapples with the themes of memory, art, and human interaction. It focuses on the physical and emotional coldness that can arise in relationships and interactions, symbolized by the coldness of a sculpted hand.

5. Fire Salamander (1997)
Fire Salamander is one of her earlier works, focusing on themes of violence and brutality, similar to Human Acts. It explores the human psyche’s dark depths, emphasizing the complexities of moral and ethical dilemmas. Han Kang’s body of work is characterized by her poetic prose, psychological depth, and an unflinching look at both personal and collective trauma

Han Kang’s upcoming projects include her latest novel, Impossible Goodbyes, which explores deep themes of trauma, memory, and friendship. The novel delves into the Jeju Massacre of 1948-49, a horrific event in Korean history where thousands of civilians were killed. The narrative is a mix of historical reflection and personal struggle, following the protagonist Gyeongha as she rushes to save her friend’s pet bird amidst a snowstorm, only to uncover the emotional and historical weight surrounding her friend’s family. The book has been praised for its poetic prose and haunting portrayal of human cruelty. It is set to be translated into English by Emily Yae Won and Paige Morris​. Additionally, Han Kang continues to receive global recognition for her previous works, such as The Vegetarian, Human Acts, and The White Book.
Han Kang’s novel Impossible Goodbyes is inspired by both personal and historical elements, particularly focusing on the Jeju Massacre of 1948-49. This massacre involved the brutal killing of around 30,000 civilians by South Korean government forces in an effort to suppress a Communist uprising. Han Kang uses this historical event as a backdrop, highlighting the trauma and forgotten memories of those affected by the atrocity.

The novel intertwines this dark chapter of Korean history with personal relationships, specifically exploring the nature of friendship, memory, and the weight of past violence. Han has long been interested in exploring the ways historical trauma is passed down through generations, and Impossible Goodbyes continues this theme by shedding light on suppressed histories and the emotional toll on individuals and communities.

In interviews, Han has mentioned how historical violence, particularly the Gwangju Uprising and the Jeju Massacre, continues to inspire her works, as she feels a strong responsibility to give voice to these unspoken traumas. The novel’s focus on the fragility of life and memory aligns with her ongoing literary exploration of existential and historical pain​.
Her literature reflects her belief in the importance of empathy and memory. She has said that writing is a way to ensure that the suffering and experiences of others are not forgotten. In her view, human cruelty can be extreme, but so can human connection, and this duality is at the heart of many of her stories. Through her characters, she portrays both the horrors and the beauty of human life, always with a focus on the emotional depth and inner worlds of individuals.

For example, in an interview about Human Acts, Han Kang stated, “I wanted to explore what it means to be human and to ask whether we can continue living after we’ve been scarred by the violence of others.” This reflects her ongoing inquiry into how people carry trauma and the ways in which they survive through empathy and human connections.##

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