“After the news of the Nobel Prize, we have been running the printing press continuously for three days without stopping for even a minute.”
At around 3pm on the 13th, at the entrance to Cheonkwang Printing Company in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, books by novelist Han Kang (54) that had just been printed were piled up over 150cm high. Inside, with the printing press running non-stop, 20 employees who gave up their weekends to come to work were busy printing out signs that said ‘No Farewell’. The two printing presses were in full operation 24 hours a day for three days.
The ‘Han River Syndrome’ continues after winning the Nobel Prize in Literature. Hardcovers, first editions, and autographed copies of Han Kang’s books were sold second-hand for tens of times the original price. Han Kang’s alma maters, including Yonsei University, sent congratulatory messages, and a reading and writing craze broke out among citizens.
● Printing shop operates at full capacity for three days ‘Screams of joy’
Printing companies were put on alert due to the shortage of Han River’s books. Cheonkwang Printing, which the reporter visited, printed 20,000 copies of Han Kang’s book in one day. An official at the printing company said, “We will print 30,000 copies tomorrow and 20,000 copies the day after tomorrow.” At one point, a situation arose where paper supply could not keep up with printing volume. An official at the printing company said, “We come to work at 7 a.m. and leave at 11 p.m.,” and added, “Although it is physically tiring, we are all happy to know that a Nobel Prize winner in literature has come from Korea.”
Yonsei University, Han Kang’s alma mater, issued a press release that day and said, “(Han Kang’s award) is the pride and reward of Yonsei University, and at the same time, it is a pride and achievement shared not only by Korea but by all of humanity.” He then congratulated him, saying, “It is the sensitivity of Yonsei’s literary figures that has continued since Yun Dong-ju to the present, and it is also an indicator of Yonsei’s education that has continued for nearly 140 years.” Yeonjin Ahn (20), a student in the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Yonsei University, said, “(Han Kang’s award) became a driving force for me to study hard as a junior.” Mr. Bae (22), who is active in the literature club at Yonsei University, said, “I think this has been an opportunity for students who want to pursue literature to be confident about their career path.” Han Kang’s alma mater, Pungmoon High School in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, also hung a banner at the school gate that read, “We are proud of the Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang at Pungmoon High School.”
● Citizens’ reading craze, second-hand dealer ‘Nobel Prize premium’
There was a craze for reading and writing among citizens as well. This afternoon, at the ‘Seoul Outdoor Library Gwanghwamun Book Madang’ held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, citizens stood in a long line where Han Kang’s books were displayed. The education world was also shaken by the increasing number of parents who wanted to send their children to ‘writing academies.’ Mr. Kim (38), who has a son in the first grade of elementary school, said, “I felt that I must teach my child how to write. “I’m looking into sending someone to a writing academy starting this weekend,” he said. Essay academies also began promoting their writing with phrases such as ‘How to write like the Han River’.
On Joongongara, an online second-hand trading site, a post was posted saying ‘The Boy is Coming’ for sale for 300,000 won. The price is more than 20 times the original price (13,000 won). There was also a post offering to buy a signed copy of the author of ‘The Boy Is Coming’ for 400,000 won. There was also a post asking for the first printing of ‘No Goodbye’ for 200,000 won. Akdong Musician’s song ‘How can I love you even after a breakup? You’re the one I love’, which Han Kang said made him cry while listening to it, ‘rebounded’ from the top 30 on the music charts to the top 10.
In Yulsan Village, Anyang-myeon, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, where Han Kang’s father, writer Han Seung-won (86), lives, a village party was held to celebrate Han Kang’s award with about 100 residents gathered. Residents asked a writer to attend, but the writer politely declined, expressing only his gratitude. One writer met with a Dong-A Ilbo reporter and said, “It is very difficult to be the father of a daughter who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.” He continued, “When I informed my daughter that (the residents) were planning to hold a village party, I repeatedly expressed my intention, ‘It would be better if there were no party.’ “It came,” he said. It is said that a writer responded to his daughter by saying, “The residents say they will hold a village party on their own, so how can you prevent them from doing so?”
Reporter Lee Soo-yeon [email protected]
Reporter Son Jun-young [email protected]
Jangheung = Reporter Lee Hyeong-ju [email protected]
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