Hangang: "Deeply Moved by Citizens' Courage and Sincerity During Martial Law"

Attendance at the 'Nobel Reading Night' Event on the 12th

Novelist Han Kang, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, said on the 12th (local time) that she was deeply moved by the sincerity and courage shown by citizens during the martial law situation.

According to Yonhap News, Han Kang made these remarks while attending the 'Nobel Reading Night' event held at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, Sweden, on the afternoon of the same day. Yukiko Duke, a local translator who hosted the event, asked Han Kang, "It must have been awful to have to leave the country to receive the Nobel Prize amid such a chaotic situation," to which Han Kang replied that she did not think it was just awful.

Han Kang said she left the country on the 5th, two days after the martial law situation began, and did not know the details of the situation, but added, "I was deeply moved by the sincerity and courage shown by the citizens because of this incident," and "So I don't think this situation is just awful." She emphasized, "I think it is not as desperate a situation as it looks from the outside."

Novelist Han Kang, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, is taking a commemorative photo at the 'Nobel Reading Night' event held on the 12th (local time) at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, Sweden.
Photo by Yonhap News

Han Kang explained, "Many people of my generation or older, who have the memory of Gwangju as a trauma, also went to the protest sites," and added, "Everyone was able to act with concern and vigilance because they knew how bad the situation could get if left as it was."

When asked if this atmosphere was 'thanks to' Koreans reading the novel Boy Who Came, she replied, "It might have served as a kind of gateway for the younger generation to Gwangju, but saying that is an exaggeration." However, she added, "I did see photos of people reading my book a little away from the protest sites," and said, "It made me feel touched."

Han Kang was also asked about the motivation behind writing Boy Who Came, mentioning 'the dictator's daughter' and 'Jeon Du-hwan,' and whether the background of former President Park Geun-hye becoming a presidential candidate influenced her.

Han Kang said, "There are various motivations for writing this book, and what you mentioned could be one of them." She continued, "Another was an internal cause of mine," explaining, "At that time, I had finished writing Greek Lessons and published it, but when I tried to write the next book, I felt resistance from within."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.