Nobel Prize Archives | Be Korea-savvy
Nobel Prize Sparks Surge in Visitors to South Korean Massacre Memorial

Nobel Prize Sparks Surge in Visitors to South Korean Massacre Memorial

JEJU, Nov. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – The Jeju April 3 Peace Memorial, a somber testament to one of South Korea’s darkest chapters, has seen a dramatic surge in visitors following Han Kang’s historic Nobel Prize in Literature win for a body of work that includes her novel about the 1948 massacre. According to the Jeju 4.3 [...]

Book Sales Surge 40% in South Korea Following Han Kang’s Nobel Win

Book Sales Surge 40% in South Korea Following Han Kang’s Nobel Win

SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – In the week following Han Kang’s historic Nobel Prize in Literature win, South Korean bookstores reported a remarkable 40% increase in sales, with older readers leading the buying surge. According to data analyzed by BC Card, major bookstore chains, both online and offline including Kyobo Book Centre, saw their sales [...]

How Watermelon and Rain Helped Nobel Winner Han Kang Reconsider Having Children

How Watermelon and Rain Helped Nobel Winner Han Kang Reconsider Having Children

SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – When news broke that Han Kang, the 54-year-old novelist who recently won the Nobel Prize in Literature, had received the announcement while having dinner with her son, it reignited interest in a personal anecdote about her decision to have children.  The story, which has been circulating on various online communities, [...]

Nobel Prize Laureates Tout S. Korea’s ‘Remarkable’ Economic Rise, But Note Challenges Ahead

Nobel Prize Laureates Tout S. Korea’s ‘Remarkable’ Economic Rise, But Note Challenges Ahead

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — This year’s Nobel economics prize laureates on Monday applauded South Korea’s economic rise, a key subject of their research, but pointed out a set of challenges ahead, including the fast-graying population of Asia’s fourth largest economy. They also drew a stark contrast between the economic backwater of North Korea [...]

Korean Author’s Nobel Win Reverberates Through Music Industry

Korean Author’s Nobel Win Reverberates Through Music Industry

SEOUL, Oct. 14 (Korea Bizwire) – The ripple effects of Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature are being felt far beyond literary circles, reaching into the realm of popular music in South Korea. According to Melon, a major domestic music streaming platform, the song “How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You’re the One I Love” by [...]

From Blacklist to Nobel: Han Kang’s Journey Illuminates South Korea’s Cultural Struggles

From Blacklist to Nobel: Han Kang’s Journey Illuminates South Korea’s Cultural Struggles

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 [...]

Korean Literature Breaks into Global Mainstream with Nobel Prize after Booker Prize

Korean Literature Breaks into Global Mainstream with Nobel Prize after Booker Prize

SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Han Kang’s historic win of the Nobel Prize in literature marks a major breakthrough for Korean literature, which has been gaining international recognition in recent years. Even before the Nobel triumph, numerous Korean authors had garnered acclaim on the world stage through prestigious international literary awards. Korean writers have [...]

Renowned Korean American Author Lee Hails Han Kang’s Nobel Prize Win

Renowned Korean American Author Lee Hails Han Kang’s Nobel Prize Win

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Renowned Korean American author Min Jin Lee on Thursday congratulated South Korean author Han Kang on her historic win of the Nobel Prize in literature this week, saying Han deserves “this global recognition.” The Swedish Academy announced Han as this year’s laureate, recognizing the 53-year-old “for her intense poetic [...]

Publisher of Han Kang’s Translator Celebrates Her Nobel Prize Win

Publisher of Han Kang’s Translator Celebrates Her Nobel Prize Win

SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Following South Korean novelist Han Kang’s Nobel Prize win, the publishing house associated with her English translator has hailed the achievement as “a huge win for translated fiction.” Tilted Axis Press, co-founded by Deborah Smith, one of Han Kang’s translators, took to social media to express its jubilation on [...]