BTS member V / Courtesy of Bit Hit Entertainment

By KTimes

V, a member of Korean supergroup BTS, took to social media to say: “Congratulations, I read 'Human Acts' while I was in the military,” shortly after writer Han Kang became the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature had won.

BTS leader RM also shared the same post with his 46.7 million followers on Instagram and added a celebratory emoji caption.

News of Han's groundbreaking victory sparked a flood of congratulatory messages from the entertainment world.

Han's work, which was praised by the Nobel Committee “for its intense poetic prose that grapples with historical trauma and exposes the fragility of human life,” also served as a creative inspiration for the young generation, including prominent figures from K-pop and beyond areas.

Singer Hynn (real name Park Hye-won), one of the “Han Kang Kids,” revealed that she chose her stage name after reading Han's novel “The White Book.” Hynn means white in Korean.

She posted a picture of the book's cover on social media and shared how the phrase “Even if I am defiled, I will only give up the white things” resonated with her. She said it strengthened her resolve to remain sincere in her music, regardless of the challenges. “I have continued to read Han Kang's works, such as 'The Vegetarian' and 'Human Acts', and I admire their deep insights into time and humanity,” she added.

Oct 11, 2024 2:37 pm | Books

Seolhyun, a member of K-pop girl group AOA, also expressed her admiration for Han's work and posted a highlighted passage from “Human Acts” that read, “What is a human? “What do we have to do to make sure we stay human?” as their way of celebrating Han’s victory.

Actor Teo Yoo, who starred in the 2023 film “Past Lives,” shared a scene from the film on social media with the caption: “Koreans will never win a Nobel Prize for Literature” and the caption: “You should have stayed inside.” Korea.”

A post shared by BTS member V on social media. Taken from social media

He used Han Kang's Nobel Prize win to alleviate his character's cultural inferiority complex in the film.

TV personality Choi Hee recalled her mother's painful experience reading “Human Acts,” set during the pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju, the author's hometown.

Choi wrote on her social media: “It took her three years to finish the book because it was emotionally draining for her. Congratulations.”

Actor Ryu Deok-hwan was also happy about the win and said, “Han Kang's novel, which I read in the military, had a big influence on me.”

Broadcaster and bookstore owner Kim So-young expressed her emotions and said, “K-pop, K-content, K-food, K-beauty – that was already impressive, but now it's literature. “I am overwhelmed to witness the flourishing of Korean culture so much in my life.”

This article from Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by a generative AI system and published by The Korea Times.