Author Han Kang on Oct. 13 gave her first media interview since winning the Nobel Prize in Literature to the Swedish public broadcaster SVT. (Screen capture from SVT's website)

By Park Hye Ri 

Han Kang says she does not want the spotlight now but rather live quietly and peacefully and focus on writing.

This is what the nation's first winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature said in her first interview since earning the honor.

At her home in Seoul on Oct. 13, Han told the Swedish public broadcaster SVT that she needed time to ponder the award's meaning.

Speaking in English, she recalled the moment when she received a phone call from the Swedish Academy on her award. "When I was interviewed by the Nobel Prize committee, I thought it was a hoax, but at the end, I understood that it was real," she said.

On why she shunned celebrating after winning the prestigious honor, the writer said, "No, I celebrated with my son with chamomile tea. And yeah, I'd like to celebrate. Why did you think so?"

SVT told her that Korean media quoted her father as saying his daughter did not want to celebrate because of the global situation like the war in Ukraine, to which she responded by saying, "There must have been confusion about his words."

"Because when I called my father that morning, he said he was going to have a huge party with people in his village. I didn't like it, so I told my father, 'Please don't have that huge party.'"

"I want to be quiet and there are many troubles in the world, and maybe we should be more calm. That was my thought and I told him not to have a banquet."

On what confronting terrible historical events can teach people, Han said, "We have had many opportunities to learn through our history and through words, but obviously (history) seems to be repeating itself." 

"I hope we can at least someday learn from our past. That we should stop killing is a very obvious conclusion from what we have been taught."

Her acceptance of the prize will bring no changes to herself, Han said. 

"It's not as if I can write a novel a year, or something like that. For example, it took me seven years to complete 'I Do Not Bid Farewell,'" she added. "I take my time and I keep writing and I don't think anything will change."

The Nobel laureate plans to attend the awards ceremony in December.

"I heard that I have to write an essay for the ceremony," she said. "So after I finish my novella, hopefully by October or the first week of November -- it's just my hope -- then afterward, I have to write that essay to read at the ceremony."

hrhr@korea.kr