Han Kang was born in Gwangju, South Korea, on November 27, 1970.
She is best known for her novels The Vegetarian (2007), Greek Lessons (2011), and The White Book (2016), with The Vegetarian winning the International Booker Prize in 2016.
The Nobel committee praised her "intense poetic prose" that addresses historical traumas and explores the fragility of human life, blending lyrical, experimental styles with deep philosophical insights.
Han Kang began her literary career as a poet in 1993 and published her first novel in 1994.
Much of her work deals with violence, trauma, and the human condition. Her writing often reflects on historical events such as the Gwangju Uprising of 1980, which deeply influenced her.
Han’s family moved away from Gwangju shortly before the uprising. This event and its brutal suppression frequently appear as haunting motifs in her writing.
Han’s father, Han Seung-won, is also a novelist, and her home was filled with books, which played a crucial role in shaping her love for literature.
Han studied Korean literature at Yonsei University in Seoul, graduating in 1993.
The Vegetarian, translated by Deborah Smith, brought Han to international fame. The book explores themes of self-control, body autonomy, and societal expectations.
Han Kang’s works have made her a critical voice in contemporary literature, pushing boundaries with her exploration of the intersections of body, spirit, and trauma.