Buddhist writer who won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature
“A new generation that has created a new generation of Korean literary heritage.”
“I met him once when I was giving a lecture at Ewha Womans University.”
Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature. Newsis”/>
French writer Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio (84), who won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature, sent a message to the Dong-A Ilbo congratulating novelist Han Kang (54) on winning the Nobel Prize. In response to an e-mail inquiry, Le Clézio said, “I have been following Han Kang’s literature from the beginning, so I think he is very worthy of winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.” At the same time, he also evaluated that “Han Kang is a new generation novelist who created a completely new version of Korea’s literary heritage.”
Le Clézio, who is considered to have written the most beautiful French sentences among living writers, is a unique work that pursues unity with nature through ‘Essay’ (1963), ‘Flood’ (1966), and ‘Desert’ (1980). built a world He taught French literature at Ewha Womans University for a year starting in 2007, and also wrote the novel ‘Binna’ set in Seoul. The following is the full text of the e-mail he sent.
I give enthusiastic cheers upon hearing the news that author Han Kang won the Nobel Prize in Literature this year. Since I have followed his literature from the beginning, I think the Swedish Academy’s respect for Han Kang is very appropriate.
Han Kang, along with Kim Ae-ran, Baek Ga-heum, Ahn Young-sil, Cho Kyeong-ran, Park Chan-soon, Kim Yeon-soo, Choi Jin-young, Yoon Seong-hee, and Pyeon Hye-young, is a new generation novelist who has completely renewed Korea’s literary heritage. I met Han Kang at a lecture at Ewha Womans University. I remember being very interested in how he explained why he (and most young female Korean writers) were different from previous generations, such as Lee Seung-woo and Hwang Seok-young, who were influenced by the Korean War.
Han Kang explained that writing his work was a major struggle to confirm his personal identity in a society steeped in modernity, a self-centered and violent urban society. Meeting the Han River gave me a great insight as I delved into Korea’s feeling of ‘han (恨)’, which is like resentment for the cruelty of war.
Like other writers such as Kim Ae-ran, Han Kang’s sense of humor gives positive meaning to the narratives of Korean writers. I really enjoyed teaching in Seoul and greatly resonated with the creative and diverse Korean culture that respects family values and traditions. I would like to visit Korea again next time.
Donga Ilbo exclusive >
![[단독]Nobel Prize winner Le Clézio said, “Han River gave me enlightenment.”](https://dimg.donga.com/a/180/101/95/2/wps/NEWS/IMAGE/2024/10/21/130262623.1.jpg "[단독]Nobel Prize winner Le Clézio said, “Han River gave me enlightenment.”")
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