Han River "Amazing and glorious..."I wish good news to Korean readers and writers."

[Anchor]
Han Kang, the first Korean novelist to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, said, "I am very surprised and honored that I did not expect this award at all."

He said that the efforts and strength of senior writers became his inspiration and that he hoped it would be good news for Korean readers and fellow writers.

Reporter Kim Sun-joong's report.

[Articles]
Han Kang, who was informed of the Nobel Prize in Literature by the Swedish Academy, was surprised, saying, "I didn't expect it at all."

In an interview published on the official YouTube account of the Nobel Committee, Han said, "I'm very surprised and honored," and thank you for your support.

Before hearing the news of the award, it was a comfortable day to read a book and take a walk, and I introduced that I was contacted when I just finished dinner with my son.

[Han Kang / Novelist (Winning Nobel Prize for Literature): I was so surprised. It was around 8 p.m. just finished eating with my son, and it was a peaceful evening. I was really surprised.]

Regarding receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature for the first time as a Korean, he said that he grew up with books from an early age and grew up with Korean literature, and that he hoped it would be good news for Korean readers and fellow writers.

When asked which writer inspired him the most, he answered that the efforts and power of senior writers who explored the meaning of life were his own inspiration, but it was very difficult to pick a few writers.

[Han Kang / Novelist (Winning Nobel Prize for Literature): Writers find meaning in their lives, sometimes they get lost and sometimes they are determined. All their hard work and strength were my inspiration.

I recommended "White" and "The Vegetarian" as well as the most recent "I Don't Say Goodbye" work I would like to recommend to my readers.

In particular, I wrote about "The Vegetarian," a work that made his name known to the world, over three years and recalled that it was a very difficult time.

[Han Kang / Novelist (Winning Nobel Prize for Literature: I think I had a hard time finding images of characters surrounding the main character and images in the work such as trees.]

Asked how he would celebrate winning the Nobel Prize, he added that he didn't drink and wanted to celebrate quietly over tea with his son.

I'm Kim Sun-joong of YTN.