Han Kang's Nobel Prize 'cause for national celebration,' says culture minister

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Han Kang's Nobel Prize 'cause for national celebration,' says culture minister

Published: 11 Oct. 2024, 17:30 Updated: 11 Oct. 2024, 18:12

LEE JIAN
lee.jian@joongang.co.kr

Culture Minister Yu In-chon speaks during a ceremony for Korea’s Book Day at the Korea Press Center in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Friday. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE SPORTS AND TOURISM]

Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature is a "cause for national celebration," Culture Minister Yu In-chon said during a ceremony for Korea’s Book Day on Friday.

"Just as much as the award is Han Kang's personal achievement, it is also a win for Korea's publishing industry and the entire country," Yu said at the Korea Press Center in Jongno District, central Seoul.

Han became the first Korean author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday. It is the second time a Korean has won the Nobel Prize, following former President Kim Dae-jung (1924-2009), who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000.

Han became the first Korean author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

"The recent Nobel Prize win is also an opportunity for local literature to go global," Yu continued. "The Culture Ministry will continue to support an atmosphere for writers to work freely and receive ample love from readers all over the world."

Friday’s "Book Day" ceremony commended a slew of local publishing industry veterans, whom Yu described as those who laid the foundations of Han's Nobel Prize.

The Korean Publishers Association established Korea’s Book Day in 1987.

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature recipient, author Han Kang [NEWS1]

The highest honor went to Go Deok-hwan, the CEO of Samyoungsa Publishing, who received a Silver Order of Cultural Merit. Since joining the publishing industry in the '60s, Go has published over 2,000 academic books on law, public administration, political science and spirituality. He has also been lecturing university students for over a decade to improve the status of publishers and editors and foster new talent in Korea.

Lee Yong, CEO of Chunga Publishing House, and Yun Se-min, a professor at Kyung-in Women’s University, received presidential commendations.

Lee started his own bookstore in 1966 and established his own publishing house in 1979. It published primarily original Korean books and raised the profile of local authors at a time when translated books were considered mainstream.

Yun has taught communications at Kyung-in Women’s University since 1995, training over 2,000 publishing figures and conducting field research that further developed the Korean publishing industry.

The prime ministerial commendation went to Book Story Publishing’s CEO, Ju Jeong-kwan, and the Hangil Book Store's late CEO, Lee Min-woo.

Yu recognized an additional 24 publishing industry figures for their contributions to developing publishing culture.

“I would like to express my sincere congratulations and respect to the winners for their efforts to develop the reading culture in Korea,” said Yu. “Despite the changing environment surrounding books, they are the foundation of spirit and the source of cultural industries, so the ministry will also do its best to pioneer future markets and support 'K-Books' and lead the economic growth of the cultural industry.”

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]