I remember the stifling love that seeped through my skin… “As if listening to poetry recitation” [Nobel Literature Prize Ceremony]

Dockside ‘Night of Literature’ Event

People getting absorbed: On the 8th (local time) in Stockholm, Sweden, an event called ‘Night of Literature’ was held where works of female Nobel literature laureates were read. Local resident Shin Miseong recited Han Kang’s work . Yonhap News

Reading Session of Female Laureates’ Works

Stockholm Resident Shin Miseong

Read ‘Goodbye, Don’t Say Goodbye’

“When my presence made mom turn around, she quietly smiled and stroked my cheek with her palm. She continued to stroke the back of my head, shoulders, and back. I remember how the poignant love seeped through my skin. It pierced my marrow, and my heart shrank… That’s when I realized how terrifying the pain of love can be.”

At 5 p.m. (local time) on the 8th, the dock near Stockholm City Hall was already enveloped in darkness as the sun had set early. Breaking the silence, Han Kang’s echoed in Korean. This was part of a ‘Night of Literature’ event during Nobel week, where works of female Nobel literature laureates were read in their respective languages and in Swedish. On this day, works by Grazia Deledda, Annie Ernaux, Olga Tokarczuk, and Han Kang were read.

The reading took place in a structure called ‘dom aderton (de aderton),’ made by the architecture department of the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. At the top of this wooden structure, portraits of 18 past female Nobel literature laureates were illuminated, creating a majestic atmosphere. Despite the biting cold wind, around 100 people gathered at the dock to hear the works read aloud in foreign languages.

The reading of Han Kang’s work was done by Shin Miseong, a librarian at Stockholm City Library. At the suggestion of the Korean Cultural Center, Shin selected the book and passages to read from Han Kang’s work. She mentioned, “The scene where the mother and nine-year-old Gyeongha confront pain in particularly resonated with me, which is why I chose this part.” The Swedish reading was done by Swedish actress Anna Sise.

Marianne, a Stockholm resident who attended the reading session, said, “We came to see the ‘Nobel Light’ with friends as it gets dark early, and ended up attending the reading session as well.” She added, “There’s a lot of interest in Nobel literature laureates’ works in Sweden. Among the four authors read today, I was especially looking forward to Han Kang’s work. Although I couldn’t understand a single word in Korean, it felt like listening to poetry, and sharing this moment was special.” Marianne mentioned that her book club plans to read Han Kang’s book together. Lee Sanghyun (a pseudonym), who came from Canada, said, “I visited Stockholm to meet a friend and came across this event during Nobel week. I realized the global popularity of Han Kang as her books were displayed at the airport bookstore while transiting through Amsterdam airport.” He added, “Although I haven’t read yet, even a few passages moved me greatly.”

People listened attentively, lowering even their breaths amid unfamiliar languages. On this chilly night at the Stockholm dock, Han Kang’s words resonated in Korean, conveying echoes that transcended the boundaries of language.