7 Recommended Books by the South Korean Writer Han Kang

Since the South Korean author Han Kang won the Nobel Prize, there has been growing interest in her work. Here are some of her notable works for those who are interested.

채식주의자 | The Vegetarian

The 2016 International Booker Prize-winning novel tells the story of Yeong-hye, who suddenly refuses to eat meat, sparking conflicts with her family. In this powerful narrative, Yeong-hye’s pain and desires are vividly portrayed as she struggles against patriarchal violence, shedding her animal instincts to protect her body and mind.

희랍어 시간 | Greek Lessons

A novel that tells the story of a woman losing her voice and a man losing his sight, whose silence and light intersect. Like the world’s oldest script, Greek, the narrative is stripped of excess, presenting a solid and refined tale.

작별하지 않는다 | I Do Not Bid Farewell

The 2023 Prix Médicis Étranger-winning novel tells a poignant story of love, unraveling the tragedy of the Jeju uprising (the Jeju April 3 incident) through the perspectives of three women. With its graceful and poetic prose, this novel presents a breathtakingly beautiful narrative.

소년이 온다 | Human Acts

The recipient of the 2014 Malaparte Prize and the 2017 Manhae Prize for Literature, this novel delves into the personal pain and inner struggles of individuals, depicting the Gwangju Uprising through the perspectives of six different characters. In the epilogue, the author shares a personal autobiographical account. It is described as a “deeply moving yet, at times, horrifying story.”

노랑무늬영원 | Fire Salamander

A collection of stories by Han Kang that brings together seven works written and published over twelve years. During the countless seasonal changes, Han Kang’s full strength and sensitivity explore the essence of existence and the world, with the medium and short stories intricately connected to her longer works such as “The Vegetarian” and “The Wind Blows, Go,” reflecting the traces of pain and the experiences that have passed through it.

흰 | The White Book

Sixty-five stories about white things that are never tainted, things that can never be defiled: doors, mist, frost, wings, snowflakes, sugar cubes, white bones, burial shrouds, silence…

서랍에 저녁을 넣어 두었다 | I Put The Evening In The Drawer

This is Han Kang’s first poetry collection, where her keen sensitivity to the fragility of the soul shines through. In a firm and clear voice, she captures the light retrieved from deep darkness.

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