Han Kang expresses deep gratitude for congratulatory messages for Nobel win

▲ Congratulatory flowers sent by fans are placed in front of the home of South Korean novelist Han Kang, who was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in literature, in Seoul on Oct. 11, 2024. (Yonhap)

Nobel laureate-gratitude message

Han Kang expresses deep gratitude for congratulatory messages for Nobel win

SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Yonhap) -- Han Kang, the novelist who became the first South Korean to win the Nobel Prize in literature this week, on Friday expressed her deep gratitude over an outpouring of congratulatory messages for her award.

"I was surprised when I first received the news of my award," Han said in a statement released through her publishers. "After hanging up the phone, the reality and emotion slowly sank in," she said.

"I was also overwhelmed by the warm congratulatory messages that poured in like a big wave. I would like to express my deep gratitude," she added.

Han decided not to hold a press conference for her award out of consideration for those suffering from the ongoing global conflicts, including those between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel and the Hamas militant group, according to her father.

The publishers announced that Han will not participate in any separate interviews with the media and will instead share her thoughts through her acceptance speech in Stockholm on Dec. 10.

The Swedish Academy announced Han as this year's laureate on the previous day, recognizing the 53-year-old "for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life."

Han is the first Asian female winner in literature and the second South Korean Nobel laureate after former President Kim Dae-jung, who was awarded the peace prize in 2000.

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