On the morning of October 11, novels by Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang were prominently displayed at a bookstore in Jeju. Following the announcement that Han Kang had become the first South Korean author to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, interest in her novel We Do Not Part, which recounts the anguish of the Jeju Uprising, has surged across the island. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – The Swedish Academy’s announcement on October 10 naming South Korean author Han Kang as the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature has reignited discussions about artistic freedom and political interference in South Korea.
The Academy specifically cited Han’s ability to “confront historical trauma” in their decision, notably referencing her novel “Human Acts,” which grapples with the 1980 Gwangju Uprising.
This recognition marks a dramatic reversal of fortune for Han, whose works were once subject to government censorship. During the administration of former President Park Geun-hye, Han found herself on a cultural blacklist, a revelation that came to light during the extensive corruption investigations of 2016 that eventually led to President Park’s impeachment and removal from office.
The special prosecutor’s team investigating the scandal confirmed that Han was indeed included on a blacklist compiled by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and revealed that the creation of this list was directed by the presidential office itself, underscoring the extent of political interference in cultural affairs.
On the afternoon of October 11, congratulatory wreaths were placed in front of the residence of Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang, celebrating her remarkable achievement. (Yonhap)
The novel “Human Acts,” now celebrated by the Nobel committee, was previously excluded from the Sejong Book project in 2014 due to its alleged “ideological bias.”
This rejection exemplifies the broader pattern of artistic suppression that characterized the conservative government’s approach to culture at the time.
Han herself addressed the blacklist issue in December 2016, shortly after the scandal broke. During a humanities lecture, she remarked, “I heard that I was put on the blacklist after publishing ‘Human Acts,’” adding, “It pains me that the events of May 18 [the Gwangju Uprising] have not yet been fully resolved.”
The impact of the blacklist extended beyond mere exclusion from government programs. When Han won the prestigious Man Booker International Prize in 2016 for her novel “The Vegetarian,” the customary congratulatory message from the government was conspicuously absent.
According to social media posts, President Park refused to send the message, citing Han’s presence on the blacklist.
Author Han Kang has crafted a distinctive body of work that delves into the complexities of human emotion and societal challenges through graceful language and poetic prose. In her novel Human Acts, she recounts the Gwangju Uprising (also known as the Gwangju Democratisation Movement) of May 18, 1980, and the lives of those affected in its aftermath. Through this powerful narrative, Han underscores that the Gwangju Uprising is not merely a historical event, but a continuing issue that still resonates in the present. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The controversy surrounding Han’s work is not limited to past administrations. As recently as last year, her novels faced challenges from conservative groups in South Korea.
“The Vegetarian” was among 2,528 books removed from school libraries in Gyeonggi Province between March 2022 and February 2023, after being labeled as “harmful” to youth by certain civic organizations.
This book removal was part of a larger initiative targeting sex education materials in schools. The Gyeonggi Province Education Office issued directives to schools to dispose of these books, providing vague criteria for determining harmful content.
The list of removed books also included works by other acclaimed authors such as Kim Yu-dam’s “Relaxed Position” and Choi Jin-young’s “The Proof of Gu,” as well as Nobel laureate José Saramago’s “Blindness.”
Han Kang’s Nobel Prize-winning novel We Do Not Part captures the painful love of a bereaved family who refuses to say goodbye to the memories of losing their loved ones in the Jeju uprising. A field report on the excavation of the remains of the victims of the 4-3 (Jeju uprising) is held in March 2021 in Gashiri, Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do. (Yonhap)
The irony of Han’s trajectory from blacklisted author to Nobel laureate has not been lost on the South Korean public. Social media platforms have been flooded with posts highlighting the contrast, with many users pointing out that Han is not alone in this experience.
Film director Bong Joon-ho, who won an Oscar for “Parasite,” and Hwang Dong-hyuk, creator of the internationally acclaimed series “Squid Game,” were also reportedly on the same government blacklist.
The ongoing controversy surrounding the cultural blacklist has also touched current politics. The recent appointment of Yong Ho-sung as the First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in July sparked criticism from cultural organizations.
Ten groups, including the Cultural Action and Korean Writers Association, issued a statement condemning the appointment, alleging that Yong played a key role in implementing the blacklist while working at the presidential office in 2014.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
