Just barely three days after being named the Nobel laureate in literature, an interview with Han Kang is published. The 53-year-old South Korean received the news from the Swedish Academy's permanent secretary Mats Malm over the phone, after having just eaten dinner with her son at home in Seoul.
When I was interviewed by the Nobel Committee, I thought it was a prank call, but in the end, I realized it was real, says Han Kang to SVT.
I celebrated with my son, with chamomile tea.
She has not wanted to talk to journalists since Thursday, only expressing herself through a statement on Friday. Instead, she has reflected and focused on her writing.
I don't want to be in the spotlight right now. I like living in peace and quiet, and I need some time to think about what the prize means, she says.
Han Kang is the first Nobel laureate in literature from South Korea. Her authorship is characterized by depictions of traumas.
Born in 1970 in Gwangju, South Korea
Started her career by publishing poems, her prose debut came in 1995 with "Love for Yeosu"
The major international breakthrough came with the novel "The Vegetarian" which was published in 2007.
Works in Swedish: "The Vegetarian", "Living and Dead", "The White Book", "I Don't Say Goodbye". (All published by Natur & Kultur publishing house)
