**South Korea Celebrates Han Kang's Nobel Literature Win Amid Surge in Book Sales**

Yesterday, South Korea celebrated as queues formed outside bookstores and online retailers struggled to keep up with demand for the works of newly crowned Nobel literature laureate, Han Kang. The frenzy was reported by Reuters, with the country’s biggest book chain, Kyobo Book Centre, noting a meteoric rise in sales, with stocks depleting almost instantly.

The recognition of Han Kang resonated deeply across South Korean society. President Yoon Suk Yeol applauded her achievement on Facebook, and the jubilant reaction was palpable in the National Assembly, where governmental proceedings paused for celebrations. Upon receiving the news, Han expressed her profound gratitude, saying, "I was very surprised when I was first told the news of the award. When the phone call ended, I slowly regained my sense of reality and started to feel emotional."

Fellow authors and public figures were quick to praise Han. Min Jin Lee, Korean-American author of *Pachinko*, described her as "a brilliant novelist who reflects our modern condition with courage, imagination, and intelligence." Echoing this sentiment, South Korean author Sung-il Kim declared, "If one Korean novelist must win the Nobel prize in literature, it would have to be Han Kang."

The impact of her win was instantly visible on sales charts, with nine of the top ten bestsellers on Kyobo's website being Han's works. Her novel *The Vegetarian*, acclaimed in 2015 through its English translation by Deborah Smith, surged over 350 places to become the top seller.

Authors like Kim Bo-young voiced pride in Han's achievement, seeing it as a rebuttal to attempts to obscure Korean historical realities. Han's work often delves into such themes, with her 2014 novel *Human Acts* exploring the 1980 Gwangju uprising, and her forthcoming English publication, *We Do Not Part*, addressing the Jeju uprising of 1948-49.

The laureate's father revealed that Han might shy away from the spotlight, noting her sensitivity to global conflicts. "She said given the fierce Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine wars and people dying every day, how could she celebrate and hold a joyous press conference?" he conveyed. Han’s humility was evident when she initially thought the news of her Nobel win might be a hoax until it was verified shortly before the official announcement.

Han Kang's literary contributions not only capture Korea’s historical struggles but signify resilience and the promise of a brighter future, echoing the legacy of figures like former President Kim Dae-jung.