Nobel laureate Han Kang attends the Pony Chung Innovation Award ceremony at Pony Chung Corridor in Seoul’s Gangnam district on Thursday. It was Han’s first public look since her Nobel Prize win in Literature. (Joint Press Corps)
Expressing gratitude to the individuals who have congratulated her on her Nobel Prize, Han Kang, this yr’s Nobel laureate in literature, spoke publicly for the primary time in Korea Thursday on the 18th Pony Chung Innovation Award ceremony held on the Pony Chung Corridor in Seoul.
“The previous week might be remembered as a deeply transferring expertise,” Han stated, including, “As all the time, I hope to proceed assembly readers by my books.”
Han was named the recipient of the Pony Chung Innovation Award earlier than the Nobel announcement, in recognition of her profound exploration of the human psyche and evocative emotional expressions which have resonated with readers worldwide. She is the primary Korean writer to win each the British Worldwide Booker Prize, in 2016 for “Vegetarian,” and France’s Prix Medicis, in 2023 for “We Do Not Half.”
Other than a quick interview with the Swedish public broadcaster SVT and a brief assertion issued through her Korean publishers on Oct. 11, Han has largely averted the media.
Han Kang attends the Pony Chung Innovation Award ceremony at Pony Chung Corridor in Seoul’s Gangnam district on Thursday. From left are: Park Younger-ja, spouse of the late Chung Se-yung, who was the second chairman of HDC Group; Han; and Chung Mong-gyu, HDC Group chairman and founding father of the Pony Chung Basis. The drawing within the background is of late Chung, father of Chung Mong-gyu. (Joint Press Corps)
HDC Group chairman and Pony Chung Basis founder Chung Mong-gyu, in addition to Park Younger-ja, spouse of the late Chung Se-yung, the second chairman of HDC Group, have been amongst these attending the award ceremony.
Reflecting on her Nobel win, Han stated, “After I first obtained the decision from the Nobel Committee, it didn’t really feel actual. I merely tried to stay calm. It wasn’t till I noticed the information stories that the gravity of the second sank in.”
Han stated she celebrated the night privately.
“The previous week, with so many individuals celebrating as if it have been their very own achievement, will stay a very particular reminiscence for me,” she stated.
Han additionally prolonged because of those that have expressed issues about quietude in her private life after the Nobel prize.
“I hope my life doesn’t change too drastically. I’ve all the time related with the world by my writing, and I need to proceed assembly readers in that method.”
Han stated that she is at the moment engaged on a novella she began earlier this yr. Whereas she hopes to publish it within the first half of subsequent yr, she admitted it’s exhausting to foretell when she is going to end.
Nobel laureate Han Kang attends the Pony Chung Innovation Award ceremony at Pony Chung Corridor in Seoul’s Gangnam district on Thursday. It was Han’s first public look since her Nobel Prize win in Literature. (Joint Press Corps)
Wanting again on her 30-year profession, Han mirrored on the simplicity of her day by day life: “I don’t drink, and lately, I’ve even given up espresso for well being causes. I not often journey. Generally, individuals ask me what I do for enjoyable.”
She stated she enjoys strolling, studying books she hasn’t but gotten to and spending time along with her household and shut buddies.
“What I really like essentially the most is the time I spend turning over concepts for my subsequent novel that I take into consideration,” stated Han. “I usually lose my method whereas writing a novel, shocked by the surprising turns. However the satisfaction of reaching the top after a protracted detour is immense.”
Han, who will flip 54 subsequent month, remarked on the traditional knowledge that an writer’s golden years are between 50 and 60.
“If that’s true, I’ve six years left,” she stated.
“Although some authors stay lively into their 70s or 80s, it takes a great deal of luck. For now, I need to give attention to finishing the three books I take into consideration, with endurance and perseverance, whereas balancing the remainder of my life.”
Han thanked her readers, the literary group and people who have supported the publishing trade by tough occasions.
The Pony Chung Basis, established in 2005 in reminiscence of the late Chung Se-yung, former honorary chairman of HDC Group, helps a variety of initiatives within the humanities.
Previous recipients embrace director Hwang Dong-hyuk of “Squid Sport,” pianist Cho Seong-jin and former United Nations Secretary-Basic Ban Ki-moon.
The award carries a money prize of 200 million gained ($146,000).