Writer Han Kang became the first Korean and the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
The media and people of the land of kimchi happily welcomed the news. The South Korean president, politicians and many celebrities congratulated Han Kang on his victory.
Among the many congratulatory messages from stars like Go Hyun Jung, Kim Hye Soo, Ryu Jun Yeol, Moon Ga Young, Kim Min Ha… the move from BTS’s RM and V became the center of attention. The two famous idols sent their early congratulations to the author and said they really loved her book “Human Acts”.
Han Kang's winning the Nobel Prize in Literature was great news, but apparently, thanks to the BTS member's wishes on his social media account with tens of millions of followers, this good news was spread more widely among the large fan community around the world.
Kpop fans around the world, even though they are not too interested in literature, have asked about the book “Human Acts” to read.
On the other hand, the song "How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love" by Kpop group AKMU (brothers Lee Chan Hyuk, Lee Su Hyun) unexpectedly climbed to 9th place on the Melon Top 100 chart, after 5 years of release.
The reason is because Han Kang once shared that she cried when listening to this song during the time she wrote the novel "I Do Not Bid Farewell" in 2021.
According to the Korea Times, the revival of the song "How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love" highlights the interesting ways that cultural content and fields can influence and connect with each other.
Just like major newspapers put BTS members congratulating Han Kang at the forefront to amplify the success of Korean literature and culture.
Korea is having effective ways of promotion, maximizing "soft power", using the influence of one field to promote another.
South Korean Culture Minister Yu In Chon stressed that Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature is "a reason for the whole country to celebrate." He declared: "This is not only Han Kang's personal achievement, but also a victory for the Korean publishing industry and the entire country."
More than 1 million copies of Han Kang's novels and short stories were sold in three major bookstores in Korea (Kyobo, Yes24, Aladin) in just five days. The stocks of publishers and bookstores also skyrocketed due to the effect of the historic victory.
According to JoongAng Daily, Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature has raised expectations that her literary works will be adapted for the screen and stage. Meanwhile, two films based on Han Kang's novels, "The Vegetarian" and "Scars," will be shown again in Korean theaters.
It seems that all areas of Korean culture are boiling over after the prestigious Nobel Prize.
This is similar to the case of the film "Parasite" by director Bong Joon Ho, which won 4 Oscars in 2020, including Best Picture. "Parasite" became a historical phenomenon and affirmed the global influence of Korean culture.
Announcer Kim So Young is overwhelmed by the development of her country's culture: "K-pop (Korean music), K-content (Korean content/drama), K-food (Korean food), K-beauty (Korean beauty products) - these are already impressive, but now they are also literature. I am deeply moved to witness Korean culture blooming so strongly in my lifetime."
