STOCKHOLM — Han Kang, the distinguished South Korean novelist acclaimed for her poignant storytelling, delivered an inspiring lecture on Saturday after being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. As the first Asian woman and first South Korean author to receive this prestigious honor, Han reflected on her journey as a writer, tracing her passion back to the age of eight.
During her Nobel lecture in Stockholm, she shared how a recent discovery of an old shoebox filled with her childhood diaries sparked memories of her early writing. Among these childhood pages, she uncovered a heartfelt poem about love, which she described as “innocent and unpolished” — a testament to her youthful imagination.
Han’s body of work, which includes powerful novels such as “The Vegetarian” and “Human Acts,” delves into the intricacies of human suffering and the painful aftermath of Korea’s historical turmoil. Her narratives are characterized by experimental themes and often encompass the harsh realities of contemporary South Korea’s past.
The Nobel Committee recognized her literary contributions, commending her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and reveals the fragility of human existence.” In her lecture, Han elaborated on her creative process, emphasizing the importance of immersing herself fully in the sensory experiences surrounding her.
She stated, “When I write, I use my body,” illustrating that her writing involves the sensory richness of sight, sound, taste, and touch. She vividly described the emotions elicited through her experiences, including the sensations of warmth, pain, and the natural elements that touch her skin.
Han expressed a deep appreciation for those moments when she successfully shares these “vivid sensations” with her readers, viewing language as a connecting thread between her and her audience. “In these moments, I experience… how my questions resonate with readers through that electric, living thing,” she remarked as she concluded her lecture, extending gratitude to both those who have engaged with her work and those who may do so in the future.
Although Han delivered her lecture in Korean, translations in English and Swedish were made available online. A formal ceremony and banquet in honor of her and other Nobel laureates is set to take place on November 10, coinciding with the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s passing.
