Han Kang, author of ”The Boy Comes” and ”The Vegetarian”, becomes first Korean to win Nobel Prize in Literature

Han Kang (54), the South Korean novelist known for such works as "The Boy Who Came" and "The Vegetarian," has been selected as a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the first time a South Korean novelist has achieved this feat.
On that day, Naver's "2024 Nobel Prize in Literature" open talk, which was held to celebrate Han Kang's award, had about 50 attendees.
The Nobel Prize in Literature was announced in real time by the publishing company Min-Onsha, which broadcast the event live on YouTube, attracting thousands of netizens.
The reaction was seen in real time on X (formerly Twitter). The top five real-time trends were "Nobel Prize in Literature," "Vegetarian," and "Novelist Han Kang."
When Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature was announced, netizens posted comments such as "I cried watching the live broadcast," "I want to make my name in Korean history," and "I want to make my name in Korean history."
Han Kang's background has also been drawing attention. Han Kang moved to Seoul at a young age and attended Pungmun Girls' High School, then Yonsei University.
He graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in Korean Literature. After graduating, he worked for the magazine company Samto, and in 1993 he made his debut as a poet, and the following year, he made his debut as a novelist.
Members of the popular idol group "BTS" also celebrated the award. "BTS" member V posted on his Instagram story,
"I read 'The Boys Are Coming' in the army. Congratulations," he wrote. RM also shared an article about Han Kang receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature, posting a crying face and a heart emoji.
This is the second time a Korean has won a Nobel Prize, following the late former President Kim Dae-jung who won the Peace Prize in 2000. She is the first Asian woman to win the prize.
The recipients were India (1), Japan (2), and China (1), making Han Kang the fifth recipient of the award.