Korean writer wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature

Professor Mats Malm - Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy - announced the prize. He said he informed Han Kang by phone. At that time, she had just had dinner with her son, who congratulated her. The writer will receive a prize of 11 million Swedish krona (more than 26 billion VND).

Before the award announcement, Chinese writer Tan Tuyet, Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and many other names were mentioned a lot by critics and readers around the world, predicting to win the award.

Last year, Norwegian author Jon Fosse, a writer relatively unknown to Asian readers, was honored for "plays and innovative prose that give voice to the unspeakable."

In 1895, Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, dedicating most of his fortune to the establishment of prizes.

Literature is one of the six categories of the Nobel Prize, awarded to authors from any country. During his lifetime, Alfred Nobel loved reading and had his own library. Later in life, he wrote novels.

The Nobel Prize in Literature is a prestigious and noble award in the literary world, because it honors the entire career of a writer rather than a specific work. Every year, the event attracts great attention from many authors and researchers. In addition, this is also one of the awards with the highest prize money. Since 1901, 116 Nobel Prizes in Literature have been awarded.

Some researchers have suggested that this year's prize should go to the creators of OpenAI or ChatGPT for their contributions to the creation of the fictional work.

The Swedish Academy, founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is responsible for deciding on the Nobel Prize in Literature. It never gives any indication of the potential winners until the announcement. The finalists are not revealed until 50 years later.

The prize was interrupted in 1914, 1918, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1943 because of the two world wars. According to the regulations, if there was no outstanding work, the prize money would be reserved for the following year.

The medal, designed by Swedish sculptor Erik Lindberg, depicts a young man sitting under a laurel tree, enchanted by the music of a muse. The certificate is a unique work of art created by Swedish and Norwegian calligraphers.

The Nobel Prize in Literature has been mired in controversy in recent years. The 2018 award was canceled after Jean-Claude Arnault, husband of poet Katarina Frostenson - a key member of the Swedish Academy's Board of Directors - was accused of sexually abusing several women.

He has also leaked the names of winners seven times, since 1996. The 2019 winner, Peter Handke, was ostracized for publicly defending the late politician Slobodan Milosevic.