Han Seung-won, a Korean novelist, is the father of Han Kang, the first Korean to win the Nobel Prize in literature. He said that when he heard his daughter won, it felt like the world had turned upside down. He shared his thoughts during a radio interview from his home in Jangheung, South Korea.
“I was shocked, and it didn’t feel real,” he said. “I had a small hope that maybe my daughter could win one day, but I never really believed it would happen. When I heard the news, it felt like a dream.”
Han Seung-won, born in 1939, started writing in 1968. He has written many books, poems, and essays that are well-loved in South Korea. Even though he is a successful writer, he never taught his daughter how to write. “Kang learned everything on her own,” he said. “She was always curious, always reading and watching the world around her. That curiosity helped her become a great writer.”
He praised Han Kang’s writing style, saying that she writes about sad things in a beautiful way. Her books often focus on tragic events in Korean history, but they show emotions that people everywhere can understand. “She can show both the pain and the strength of people,” he said.
Han Seung-won mentioned some of her well-known books, like The Vegetarian, Human Acts, and We Do Not Part. He said, “Her books talk about the violence of the state, the trauma people feel, and the deep love for fragile human beings. I think that’s what made the judges notice her work.”
He also said that all of her books are special. “It’s not just because she’s my daughter. I look at her books with an honest eye. Her stories are deep and talk about hard things with care.” He said that Han Kang writes about tough topics like trauma, pain, and the human spirit, which makes her work stand out.
Han Seung-won remembered the moment he knew his daughter was a brilliant writer. When he read the first line of her first short story collection, Love of Yeosu, he knew she would be great. “I felt a chill when I read it. I knew she had something special,” he said.
He talked about how hard it is to be a writer. “Writing is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work and bravery to face tough truths,” he said. “Kang has always been brave enough to write about the difficult parts of life, and that shows in her work. She doesn’t avoid the painful parts, and that’s why her stories are so powerful.”
Han Seung-won said he is very proud of his daughter. “As a father, I am so proud of Kang. Her success shows how important storytelling is and how it helps us understand each other,” he said. “I hope her work keeps inspiring people around the world and helps them find comfort.”
He also shared his hopes for Korean literature. “I think Kang’s win will help other Korean writers get noticed. We have many talented authors, and I hope more people will read their stories. Literature can connect us all, and I hope this is just the beginning for Korean literature.”