Nobel Prize winner Han Kang's new book tops sales in South Korea

Light and Thread, Han Kang 's first book since receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2024 , has become an immediate success in South Korea , reaching number one on the bestseller list of the Kyobo bookstore chain, the country's main one, just one week after its release.

The work, which brings together twelve meditative essays and poems accompanied by black and white photographs taken by the author herself, topped the sales list from April 23 to 29, announced by Kyobo.

The title comes from a Nobel-related lecture Han gave in December before the Swedish Academy in Stockholm . The work includes his reflections on the event and the banquet for the prestigious prize.

With her new book, the South Korean writer offers a contemplative and serene portrait of creation, memory, and inner life, consolidating her status as one of the most influential voices in contemporary South Korean literature.

Before Light and Thread , Han had already achieved international acclaim with works such as The Vegetarian , winner of the Man Booker International in 2016 , and Human Acts , acclaimed for its moving portrayal of repression and historical memory in South Korea.