The Passionate Path and Artwork of a Korean Female Writer

Writer Han Kang has made history by becoming the first Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2024, bringing Korean literature to the global stage.

Born in 1970 in Gwangju, South Korea, Han Kang is one of the most prominent writers of her generation. She comes from a literary family with her father, a famous novelist, Han Seung-won. In addition to her passion for writing, she is also devoted to art and music.

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature honors Korean writer Han Kang. (Source: Swedish Academy)

Han Kang studied Korean Literature at Yonsei University and began his literary career as a poet.

She made her debut in 1993, when she published five poems, including "Winter in Seoul," in the winter edition of the magazine Munhak-gwa-sahoe (Literature and Society).

In 1994, she began her career as a novelist when she won the Seoul Shinmun Spring Literary Award with her work "Red Anchor".

During his career, Han Kang has released many outstanding works such as the short story collection My Woman's Fruit (2000), The Vegetarian (2007) which won the 2016 Man Booker International Prize and other works such as The Breath of Struggle (2010), The Nature of Man (2014) and White (2016).

She has also received numerous literary awards, including the Korean Novel Award, the Today Young Artist Award, and the YiSang Literature Award.

Her latest novel I Didn't Say Goodbye was recently awarded the Médicis Prize in France in 2023 and the Émile Guimet Prize in 2024.

Author familiar to Vietnamese readers

The name of writer Han Kang is no longer strange to Vietnamese readers through his works that leave a strong impression and are rich in humanity.

Her appearance in Vietnamese literature not only helps readers approach Korean literature but also opens up new perspectives on people and society.

The Vegetarian is one of the first works translated and published in Vietnam in 2021, quickly attracting the attention of critics and readers.

The novel revolves around the story of Yeong-hye, a woman who decides to give up meat and reject social norms, leading to conflicts in her family and life.

The work not only reflects pain and loss but also deeply depicts the character's psychology with a surrealistic writing style.

That attracts and brings Vietnamese readers into a new perspective, as a way to find the answer to the question: Is there a balance between personal freedom and ecological being?

Besides The Vegetarian, other works of the author such as The Nature of Humanity, White and most recently I Don't Say Goodbye have been translated and received warm reception from Vietnamese readers. These works all bear her personal mark with an emotional writing style and depth in each sentence.

Han Kang began his literary career as a poet. (Source: The New York Times)

Unique literary identity

Han Kang's writing style has been described as poetic, delicate, and sometimes tragic. She skillfully blends beauty and pain, taking readers on a deep journey with her characters.

Themes such as violence, death, loss, and human struggle in modern society often appear in her work, creating strong emotions and empathy from readers.

Notably, in her works, many of the main characters are women but are told from a man's perspective.

As the opening of the novel The Vegetarian says: “Before my wife became a vegetarian, I always thought she was completely unremarkable in every way. However, if there were no special charms, no particular flaws, there would be no reason why we should not get married.”

Through his works, the writer not only creates a poetic literary space but also opens up a profound perspective on reality, clearly depicting the pain that people have suffered throughout history.

The novel The Nature of Man is a prime example of this. The author draws on a historical event in the city of Gwangju, where she was born and where hundreds of students and civilians were massacred in 1980 under the dictatorship.

Through each page of the book, the author realistically depicts the pain and loss that the victims and their families had to endure.

She does not shy away from depicting haunting images, such as the souls of the dead separating from their bodies, allowing them to witness their own passing. These passages leave a strong impression, making the reader feel the pain and tragedy that humanity has gone through.

Unexpected victory

Han Kang's victory continues to affirm the surprise element of the Nobel Prize in Literature, when this award has long focused on European and North American authors with works heavy on style but light on plot.

The prize is also male-dominated, with only 17 women out of 119 winners to date. The last female winner was France's Annie Ernaux, in 2022.

According to Ellen Mattson, a member of the Swedish Academy, in theory, the Nobel Prize in Literature can be awarded to anyone who has devoted himself to writing and produced great achievements.

This year's Nobel Prize in Literature was also a surprise to its winner. When announcing the award, Mats Malm, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, said that Ms Han was "having a normal day" and had "just finished dinner with her son" when he called to congratulate her.

"She really wasn't prepared for this, but we started discussing preparations for December," he said. "The Nobel Prize ceremony will take place in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death in 1896."

The novel "Human Nature" was released in Vietnam. (Source: Nha Nam)

Commenting on the style of writer Han Kang, Mr. Anders Olsson, Chairman of the Nobel Committee, said: "With her powerful poetic style, facing historical traumas and exposing the fragility of human life, she has become an innovator in contemporary prose."

Anna-Karin Palm, a member of the Nobel Committee for Literature, added: "Han's powerful, lyrical style almost acts as a consolation against this historical violence. The prose itself is gentle, but her literary style becomes a counter-force to the brutal noise of power."

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/giai-nobel-literature-2024-con-duong-va-tac-pham-nghe-thuat-day-dam-me-cua-nu-van-si-han-quoc-289667.html