“My daily life, I hope, won’t change much. I’ve always connected with the world through the words I write, and I want to continue meeting readers in my books, just as I always have.”
A week after being named the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature winner, novelist Han Kang made her first public appearance on Oct. 17. She attended the Pony Chung Innovation Award ceremony in Samseong-dong, Seoul, at 5 p.m., smiling shyly as she accepted a bouquet of flowers. Dressed in a modest black suit, Han had kept a low profile since the Nobel announcement, making this her first public event.
On Sept. 19, the Pony Chung Foundation selected Han as the recipient of its 18th annual innovation award. Named after the late Chung Se-yung, honorary chairman of HDC Holdings and founder of Hyundai Motor, the award includes a 200 million won cash prize. According to sources, Han reportedly told close friends, “I feel like I should go to this event. I’m worried.” Since the event had been scheduled before the Nobel announcement, Han decided to attend as planned.
The ceremony was private, with limited media access, though photographers were briefly allowed inside. Han’s acceptance speech was relayed via speakers to reporters, and a video of the event was later released. Representatives from her domestic publishers, including Moonji Publishing CEO Lee Kwang-ho, Munhakdongne Editor-in-Chief Lee Hyun-ja, and Changbi Publishers CEO Yeom Jong-seon, were also in attendance.
Taking the microphone, Han, in her signature calm and soft voice, addressed the media attention. “A press conference had been scheduled for two days ago. Had it gone forward, fewer people would be here today, and it would have caused less trouble for the organizers.” She continued, “If you’ll allow me, I’d like to briefly share some thoughts that may have piqued your curiosity.”
Reflecting on the moment she won the Nobel Prize, Han said, “It became real when I hung up the phone with the Nobel Committee and saw the news reports. Over the past week, many people have warmly congratulated me, sharing in the joy as if it were their own. This week will remain a special and unforgettable memory.” She added, “I’m currently working on a novel that I began this past spring. I hope to release it in the first half of next year, but I’m usually wrong when it comes to predicting when I’ll finish.”
In her prepared remarks, Han shared her thoughts on writing: “What I love most is the quiet time spent mulling over a novel in my mind during ordinary days.” Reflecting on her 30-year career, she said, “I published my first novel in January 1994, so this year marks 30 years since I began writing. When I look back, the time spent living in the real world feels fleeting, like sand slipping through my fingers. But the time spent writing feels much longer, as if it has doubled those 30 years, flowing like an electric current.” She added, “I’ll turn 54 in about a month. People say a writer’s golden age is between 50 and 60, so I have six years left. I want to focus on writing three books during that time.”
Literary critic Kang Ji-hee, a professor at Hanshin University, delivered a congratulatory speech. Kang, who made her debut in 2008 through The Chosun Ilbo’s New Year’s Literary Contest, winning with a critique of Han’s work, shared a personal anecdote. “I was 22 when I wrote that critique. Han was always so kind and open to me, even though I was young and inexperienced. I was lucky enough to grow close to her as she let her guard down,” she said with a laugh. “I hope she continues to find small moments of happiness and peace, and that she will keep writing with courage, speaking truth to the world.”
Han left the ceremony around 5:40 p.m., skipping the dinner reception and exiting through a side door to avoid the media. Several reporters asked her for additional comments as she made her way to her car in the underground parking lot, but she didn’t respond.
Since winning the Nobel Prize, Han has maintained a low profile, fueling public curiosity about her day-to-day life. At the time of the announcement, she was at home having dinner with her son. Afterward, she stayed at her residence in Seoul’s Seochon neighborhood until at least Oct. 10. On Oct. 13, she participated in a virtual interview with Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT from her home. During the interview, conducted in English, Han said she needed time to reflect on the award’s significance. She added, “I want to stay quiet. There are many troubles in the world, and maybe we should be more calm.”
