[학생기자 칼럼]Han Kang has won the Man Booker Fiction Prize

Heejeong Jang (McLean HS, 11th)

South Korean writer Han Kang has won the Man Booker Fiction Prize with her novel “The Vegetarian.” This is the first time that a South Korean writer won the prize. The Man Booker International Prize gives award to a single work of fiction that is a non-English novel translated into English.

“The Vegetarian” was selected unanimously by the five judges and was praised widely with positive comments such as “concise, unsettling and beautifully composed,” and “unforgettably powerful.” It also beat out the novels of more established writers such as Elena Ferrante and Jose Eduardo Agualusa.

Kang’s success is significant, not just in that it brings worldwide attention to her work, but also to Korean literature, which had been among one of the least-known literary traditions until recently. Although it took a decade-long effort to be embraced by the international audience, the award allowed the publishers overseas to take interest in Korean literature, pushing Korean literature market onto the global stage. Like Han Kang said, “Now is the beginning.”

The Korean government is very engaged in its literature and is willing to continue to fund the Literary Translation Institute of Korea to promote Korean literature globally. Adding on to the efforts of Korean government, if the global readers can approach Korean literature with open hearts, Korean writers will have motivation to write more solid pieces and establish South Korea as a prominent player on the global literary stage.