Han Kang to not hold a press conference amid hometown excitement

[Anchor]

Many people may want to hear directly from author Han Kang, who won the Nobel Prize, but her father, novelist Han Seung-won, delivered his daughter's sentiments to not hold a press conference, saying what kind of celebration can there be in a world suffering from war.

The news of Han Kang's Nobel Prize, which deals with the May 18 Democratic Uprising as a subject, holds special significance for the people of Gwangju and Jeonnam, her hometown.

Reporter Kim Ae-rin reports.

[Report]

A collapsed boy in military uniform.

He is 17-year-old martyr Moon Jae-hak, who was shot and killed by the martial law forces in Gwangju in May 1980.

Moon has been resurrected as Dong-ho, the protagonist of Han Kang's novel "Human Acts."

[Han Kang/Author/2021 KBS Interview: "I hoped that Dong-ho would come to us through the novel. So, from May 1980, five years later, ten years later, twenty years later, thirty years later, slowly walking in spirit..."]

Moon's mother opened again the novel featuring her son as the protagonist -- the book that her husband, who passed away two years ago, read while underlining it.

[Kim Gil-ja/Mother of the late Moon Jae-hak: "I am so grateful that our author’s one word can move the world more than a hundred words of struggle..."]

The author’s father, novelist Han Seung-won, feels proud of his daughter’s achievement.

[Han Seung-won/Novelist: "A good young novelist with poetic sensitivity."]

He also mentioned that Han Kang has decided not to hold a press conference for the award.

She apparently questioned what kind of celebration can be held when the world is suffering from war.

[Han Seung-won/Novelist/Father of Han Kang: "She said with the war so fierce that every day bodies are being carried away, what kind of celebration can there be?"]

At the elementary school Han Kang attended, a large banner was hung, and the local residents of her hometown also shared in the joy of her achievement.

KBS News, Kim Ae-rin.