The repercussions of his coronation on sales figures are already visible. The books of Han Kang, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, are facing exceptional demand in the country of Morning Calm.
South Korean novelist Han Kang won the Nobel Prize for Literature on Thursday October 10.for his intense poetic prose that confronts historical trauma and exposes the fragility of human life“. The first Asian and first Korean personality to be the recipient of this honor noted, six days later, its dazzling impact. In less than a week, more than a million copies of her works were sold, according to data from the country’s main bookstores, Kyobo, Aladin, and YES24.Han Kang’s books are the subject of unprecedented sales. This is a situation we have never experienced“, declared Kim Hyun-jung, spokesperson for Kyobo, to AFP, for which Franceinfo is relaying.
For its part, Aladin reported that sales of the writer’s books increased 1,200-fold compared to last year, and that South Korean literature as a whole saw its sales increase 12-fold.I’ve never been busier since I joined the company in 2006“said a company employee, emphasizing the scale of the phenomenon.
The Vegetarian, international success
Bookstores and online retailers also reported that more than 1.06 million copies of Han Kang’s books, including in e-book format, had been sold since the price was announced. Faced with this demand, some printing plants have had to operate continuously to avoid shortages.
His best-known work abroad, The Vegetarianwinner of the Man Booker Prize in 2016, already adapted for film in South Korea, explores the consequences of a radical change in a woman’s life, with repercussions on her mental health and family relationships.
