South Korean Author Honored for Her Poetic Prose Addressing Historical Trauma

South Korean author Han Kang was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life,” the Swedish Academy announced on October 10. The prize, worth 11 million Swedish crowns (S$1.38 million), recognizes Han’s unique literary voice and her exploration of the connections between body and soul, life and death. Known for her innovative and experimental prose, she is the first South Korean and the 18th woman to receive this prestigious award. Han began her career in 1993 with poems published in Literature and Society, followed by her prose debut in 1995 with the short story collection Love of Yeosu.