Han Kang links martial law memories with citizens' resistance in South Korea

Author Han Kang, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature, said about the state of emergency declared by President Yoon Suk-yeol on Dec. 3, "The memories of 1979 and 1980, whether experienced directly or not, were known by the citizens not to be repeated, which is why they took to the streets in the middle of the night."

In an interview published by The New York Times (NYT) on the 21st (local time), Han Kang spoke of the citizens who took to the streets in resistance to the martial law at that time, stating, "That is how the past and present are consolidated."

The NYT interview took place ahead of the U.S. publication of the novel "We Do Not Part." The 2021 work, "We Do Not Part," is among his representative works that unpacks the tragedy of the Jeju 4·3 Incident through the perspectives of three women.

The NYT noted that Han Kang's works address South Korea's authoritarian past. It also assessed that, since the president briefly declared martial law in December, the connection between his works and reality appears to have grown larger. He said he watched the process of President Yoon's declaration and lifting of the martial law last year with anxiety.

Han Kang remarked that he is still reflecting on recent events in South Korea. He continued, stating that it was never his intention to explore the tragic scenes of modern Korean history in succession through his works.

Han Kang shared that he is trying to return to a quiet life of writing after a busy period receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature. He also mentioned that the wildflowers, which bloomed white after being planted last year, withered as winter snowflakes fell.