In October, this year’s Nobel Prize winners were announced. To everyone’s surprise, the Nobel Prize in Literature* was awarded to the Korean author, Han Kang. She is the second Korean to receive this prestigious honor.

Han was born in 1970. She began her literary career with five poems in a magazine in 1993. Two years later, she started writing novels.

Since then, she has written many notable works. They include “The Vegetarian,”* “The White Book,”* and “Human Acts.”*

“The Vegetarian” was her first book to be translated into English. It won the International Booker Prize.* With this win, she became known worldwide.

The Nobel Prize award ceremony will be held on December 10th. There, she will be presented with her prize.

Han’s Other Career

Han is also a musician. When she published an essay book in 2007, she released a CD with 10 songs. She composed the music and wrote the lyrics for the songs herself.

Another Nobel Prize Winner in Korea

Former President Kim Dae-jung was the first Korean to win a Nobel prize. He received the Nobel Peace Prize* in 2000. He was recognized for his efforts to improve relations between South and North Korea.

* Nobel Prize 노벨상

* Nobel Prize in Literature 노벨문학상

* The Vegetarian <도서> 채식주의자

* The White Book <도서> 흰

* Human Acts <도서> 소년이 온다

* International Booker Prize 부커상

* Nobel Peace Prize 노벨평화상