In the wake of Han Kang’s historic Nobel Prize in Literature win, libraries across South Korea are experiencing an unprecedented surge in demand for the author’s works, per korea.net. The National Library of Korea’s analytics platform, Library Bigdata, reveals a dramatic shift in borrowing patterns at nearly 1,500 public libraries nationwide.
Han’s 2021 novel, I Do Not Bid Farewell, catapulted from 445th to third place in national borrowing rankings within a week of her Nobel announcement on October 10. The book now sits atop the most-borrowed list, showcasing the immediate impact of her prestigious award.
Other titles by Han have seen similar spikes in popularity. Human Acts leaped from 178th to second place, while The Vegetarian, which earned Han international acclaim with the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, surged from 166th to claim the top spot.
Interestingly, South Korean cinema chain CJ CGV announced special screenings of two films based on Kang’s novels, reports koreatimes.co.kr. The Vegetarian and Scars, both directed by Lim Woo-seong, will be shown on Thursday to celebrate Han’s recent Nobel literature award. The films, adaptations of her critically acclaimed works, previously garnered international recognition at prestigious film festivals. Despite initial lukewarm public reception, Han’s Nobel triumph has reignited interest in these cinematic interpretations of her literary masterpieces, prompting this celebratory screening event.
This literary frenzy underscores the profound influence of the Nobel Prize on public reading habits and cements Han Kang’s position as a literary icon in South Korea and beyond.
