South Korean author Han Kang participates in a press conference at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, on Dec. 6, 2024.SEOUL, December 06 (AJP) - "So for the past few days, as with many Koreans alike, I was shocked, and I am keeping my eyes on the news to see the changes happening in my home country,” said Han Kang, the 54-year-old novelist and the first South Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, during her first official press conference at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Friday afternoon.
The event, part of the Nobel Foundation's series for this year’s laureates, was Han’s first public appearance since being announced as the winner in October.
Han’s acclaimed novel, "Human Acts", has its background in the Gwangju Uprising of May 1980, a student-led protest against the dictatorship. The story explores the impact of martial law imposed during the uprising which left 166 civilians killed, 179 missing and 2,617 wounded, drawing parallels to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recent declaration of martial law on Tuesday, the first such act since the period depicted in her novel.
"Like everyone else, at night I was deeply shocked. So, to write Human Acts, I did spend a lot of time studying the martial law situation that happened back in 1979. For me, to see the same situation unfold in real time before my eyes in 2024 was startling," Han said.
"So, one difference between the situation in back in 1979 and 2024 winter is that it's lively streamed. Everybody was there to witness the situation," she added.
When asked what it means to be a Nobel Laureate and what she is looking forward to the most, she answered, "This award is given to literature. All the attention focused on me has been very overwhelming. Over the past months, I reflected on this and came to the conclusion that this award is truly for literature... and that makes me more comfortable," Han responded.
"I will try to write without any pressure. I am ready to write again, now," she emphasized, highlighting the significance of the prize as a recognition of literature rather than herself.
Han is scheduled to spend Nobel Week in Stockholm, with activities including a visit to the national library and delivering a lecture reflecting on her literary journey at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm.
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