SEOUL – South Korean author Han Kang, who made history as the first South Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, expressed her desire for her daily routine to remain largely unchanged after receiving the prestigious accolade.
Best known internationally for her novel The Vegetarian, which won the Man Booker International Prize, Han, 53, became the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Swedish Academy awarded her for “her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life,” sparking a wave of excitement in South Korea.
Following her Nobel win, the author has experienced a surge in popularity, with over a million copies of her books sold since the announcement on October 10. The demand for her works caused major South Korean bookstore websites to crash, as tens of thousands rushed to purchase her novels.
Speaking at an event in Seoul, Han reflected on her achievement. “The past week, filled with so many people sharing in my joy as if it were their own, will be remembered as a special and moving experience for me,” she said. Despite the whirlwind of attention, Han emphasized her hope that her daily life would not change drastically, as she remains dedicated to her craft.
“I hope and believe that my daily life won’t change too much,” Han said, adding that she plans to continue writing and connecting with readers through her work. She shared that her routines involve little travel, no alcohol or caffeine, and a fondness for walking.
Currently working on a novel she began earlier this year, Han hopes to complete the project by 2025, though she admitted that her writing process sometimes takes longer than expected. Beyond this, she has plans for at least three more books, which she aims to write over the next six years, before she turns 60.
“Just as it has always been, I suspect that as I write these, I’ll come up with ideas for more books… This makes me worry that I might not even be able to die properly, always haunted by the thought of the next three books I want to write,” she said with a smile.
Han’s success has not only elevated her profile but also boosted the popularity of South Korean literature, with local booksellers reporting a dramatic increase in sales.