[Herald Interview] 'River and Liver' flows through emptiness in humanity's last days

On what might as well be the world’s last day, L and O share beer on a sweltering, humid night, talking about the end of humanity. Their neighbor is under quarantine, a mermaid has been spotted on the Han River, and a sinkhole has formed as the ground collapses beneath their home. Gazing into the abyss, the two joke about who would rescue them if they fell in. The scene is from "River and Liver," the National Theater Company of Korea's surrealist dark comedy playing at Myeon

Oct. 18, 2024

[Herald Interview] Tiago Rodrigues weaves poetry, memory and collective experience in 'By Heart'

Portuguese playwright, director and actor Tiago Rodrigues credits his deep love of literature with inspiring his iconic theater piece “By Heart.” Rodrigues, artistic director of the Avignon Festival in France, became the first non-French artist to lead one of the biggest performing arts festivals in the world since it was founded by Jean Vilar in 1947. Visiting Seoul for the second time -- his first visit was as a programmer for the Seoul Performing Arts Festival -- Rodrigues brings

Oct. 18, 2024

Han Kang says she wants to 'meet readers through writing'

Expressing gratitude to the people who have congratulated her, Han Kang, this year's Nobel laureate in literature, spoke publicly for the first time in Korea, Thursday, after her Nobel Prize win on Oct. 10, at the 18th Pony Chung Innovation Award ceremony held at the Pony Chung Hall in Seoul. "The past week will be remembered as a deeply moving experience," Han said, adding, "As always, I hope to continue meeting readers through my books." Han was named the recipient of

Oct. 17, 2024

'I would like to live in peace quietly,' Han Kang tells Sweden's SVT

In an interview with Swedish public television broadcaster SVT, this year's Nobel Prize laureate in literature Han Kang said that she "doesn't want to be in the spotlight right now." "I would like to live in peace quietly, and I need some time to reflect on what this prize means," Han told SVT. According to the SVT report on Sunday, the interview took place at Han's home in Seoul and was conducted in English. Regarding initial reports about her father's co

Oct. 16, 2024

Nobel Prize sparks policies aimed at revitalizing publishing industry

In the wake of Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in literature win, new policies and laws are being discussed to foster future literary talents like Han. Culture Minister Yu In-chon said that next year’s budget for the publishing sector has been restored to its 2022 level, adding that it increased by approximately 3 billion won ($2.2 million) compared to this year. Speaking at the 38th annual Book Day ceremony on Friday, Yu called Han’s achievement “an unparalleled honor both person

Oct. 14, 2024

Han Kang’s Nobel Prize opens new horizons for Korean literature

Han Kang's Nobel Prize win Thursday brought the recognition Koreans have long sought: For decades Koreans have been fixated on the question of when Korea would win a Nobel Prize in literature. As novelist Kim Young-ha noted in his message of congratulations, the question of whether the Korean language, once threatened with extinction during the Japanese colonial era, could find its rightful place in world literature has haunted the collective consciousness of Koreans since liberation. The w

Oct. 13, 2024

Han Kang’s manuscript set to be unsealed in 2114 gets renewed attention

Author Han Kang's unpublished manuscript which has been sealed and locked away in Oslo, Norway is getting renewed attention following her Nobel Prize in literature win. The manuscript is shrouded in mystery -- its content, length and format unknown -- only its title, “Dear Son, My Beloved,” has been revealed. The manuscript is part of the Future Library art project launched by Katie Paterson in Norway in 2014. Each year, a writer is invited to contribute a manuscript that explor

Oct. 13, 2024

Han Kang speaks up on Nobel Prize, thanks ‘enormous wave’ of blessing

Han Kang, the first South Korean and Asian female writer to be decorated with the Nobel Prize in literature, spoke officially for the first time late Friday evening through her publishers, expressing shock and gratitude towards “enormous waves” of congratulations from across the world. “I am grateful for being chosen as the laureate. The amount of warm words of congratulations that poured in throughout the day like an enormous wave surprised me,” said Han in a statement r

Oct. 11, 2024

Han Kang declines press conference, not to celebrate, citing global wars

The 2024 Nobel Prize winner in literature, Han Kang has reportedly expressed that she will not be holding a press conference, according to her father, novelist Han Seung-won. According to media reports, Han Seung-won met with local reporters at his home in Jangheung County, South Jeolla Province, where he said, "I initially advised her to choose one of her publishers and hold a press conference, and she agreed. However, when we spoke again this morning (Friday), she told me she had changed

Oct. 11, 2024

Novelist Han Seung-won says daughter's historic Nobel win feels surreal

Korean novelist Han Seung-won, father of the country’s first Nobel laureate in literature, said Friday that he felt “as if the world had been turned on its head” upon hearing his daughter's win. Speaking from his home in Jangheung, South Jeolla Province, Han shared his reaction during a local radio interview. “I was stunned, and it didn’t feel real,” he said. “There have been many instances where the Nobel committee selects someone very unexpected.

Oct. 11, 2024