The Swedish Academy in Stockholm announced that South Korean author Han Kang received the 2024 Nobel Prize for literature on Oct. 10. The Nobel Prize committee stated that she was awarded “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.”

Han Kang was born in 1970 in Seoul, South Korea. Throughout her career, she has written an extensive list of novels including Human Acts (2014), The White Book (2016), and Your Cold Hands (2002). Her most renowned novel, Vegetarian (2007), won a Booker Prize. 

The news of her conferment was praised by many Koreans. According to Maeil News, 1.1 million copies of her books were sold within six days of her winning the Nobel Prize, 

Han Kang commented on her award saying, “[I was first surprised after receiving the news and also when I received  the great wave of warm messages of congratulations.]” 

The Nobel Prize award ceremony will take place on Dec. 10.