Han Kang declines press conference, not to celebrate, citing global wars
전체 맥락을 이해하기 위해서는 본문 보기를 권장합니다.
According to media reports, Han Seung-won met with local reporters at his home in Jangheung County, South Jeolla Province, where he said, "I initially advised her to choose one of her publishers and hold a press conference, and she agreed. However, when we spoke again this morning (Friday), she told me she had changed her mind."
Explaining her decision, the father said, "Her perspective had shifted from that of a writer living in Korea to a more global one. She said that with the wars raging between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, with deaths being reported every day, she could not hold a celebratory press conference. She asked for understanding in this matter."
이 글자크기로 변경됩니다.
(예시) 가장 빠른 뉴스가 있고 다양한 정보, 쌍방향 소통이 숨쉬는 다음뉴스를 만나보세요. 다음뉴스는 국내외 주요이슈와 실시간 속보, 문화생활 및 다양한 분야의 뉴스를 입체적으로 전달하고 있습니다.
The 2024 Nobel Prize winner in literature, Han Kang has reportedly expressed that she will not be holding a press conference, according to her father, novelist Han Seung-won.
According to media reports, Han Seung-won met with local reporters at his home in Jangheung County, South Jeolla Province, where he said, "I initially advised her to choose one of her publishers and hold a press conference, and she agreed. However, when we spoke again this morning (Friday), she told me she had changed her mind."
Explaining her decision, the father said, "Her perspective had shifted from that of a writer living in Korea to a more global one. She said that with the wars raging between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, with deaths being reported every day, she could not hold a celebratory press conference. She asked for understanding in this matter."
After a brief phone interview with the Nobel Prize committee on Friday, Han has not made any further comments.
The publishers of her novels -- Munhakdongne Publishing Group and Changbi Publishers -- said things have not been decided yet.
Han became the first Korean author to win the Nobel Prize in literature on Thursday, and the first Asian woman to do so. This marks the second time a Korean has received a Nobel Prize, following former President Kim Dae-jung's Nobel Peace Prize in 2000, 24 years ago.
"I'm so surprised and I'm absolutely honored," Han said in a phone interview with the Swedish Academy in a video released shortly after the winning announcement on Thursday.
Speaking in English, Han said she had just finished dinner with her son at home in Seoul, and they were both very surprised by the news.
"I didn't work today. I just read a bit and took a walk. It was a kind of easy day for me," she said.
The 53-year-old author said she "grew up with Korean literature" and added that all the writers have been a collective inspiration for her. She hoped that the news would be a nice surprise for Korean literature readers and fellow writers.
By Hwang Dong-hee(hwangdh@heraldcorp.com)
Copyright © 코리아헤럴드. 무단전재 및 재배포 금지.