We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Han Kang, the first South Korean author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. This prestigious award shines a spotlight not only on her brilliant authorship, but also on South Korea and Korean literature in general.
Norwegian readers have long appreciated Han Kang’s writing, as several of her most renowned works have been translated into Norwegian, including The Vegetarian, Human Acts, and The White Book. Her most recent novel We Do Not Part was released in Norwegian earlier this year.
Han also has a special connection to Norway through the Future Library. In May 2019, she visited Norway to deliver her manuscript to this special art project. The Future Library was launched in Norway in 2014 and every year an author is invited to contribute to the project. Contributors include renowned writers such as Margaret Atwood, David Mitchell and Karl Ove Knausgård. The manuscripts are stored at the Deichman Library in Oslo, unseen by anyone until 2114 when the texts will be published for the first time – 100 years after the project was launched.
In 2023, the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded the Norwegian writer, Jon Fosse. This award made a big impact not only on his works but contributed to more attention worldwide on Norwegian literature in general.
As we celebrate this achievement, we look forward to seeing how Han Kang’s literary contributions will continue to inspire readers across the world for generations to come.