French novelist Bernard Werber, well-known to Koreans, praised the novel “I Do Not Say Goodbye” (2021, Munhakdongne) by Han Kang, the first Asian woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.
On the YouTube channel ‘KBS Documentary’ on the 19th, an unaired video of ‘Nobel Prize in Literature Special Documentary: Han Kang’ was uploaded. The main broadcast was aired on KBS 1TV on the 13th.
Werber commented, “(Han Kang’s) ‘I Do Not Say Goodbye’ is a really well-written work,” stating, “What I liked about ‘I Do Not Say Goodbye’ is that it handles a terrible tragedy with a long breath.”
He added, “I was unaware that, despite experiencing several hardships such as Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War, Koreans perpetrated horrific massacres on Jeju Island against their countrymen.”
“I Do Not Say Goodbye” follows the story of a novelist named Kyung-ha, who retraces painful past histories based on the memories of her friend In-seon’s mother while staying at In-seon’s empty house on Jeju Island after In-seon ends up in the hospital due to an accident.
This work, which contains the long and silent struggle of the 4.3 Incident survivors, delicately depicts the human will that doesn’t abandon the desire for life despite being marred by violence.
Last year, Han Kang, with this work, debuted as the first Korean author to be nominated for the foreign literature category of the Médicis Prize, one of France’s four major literary awards.
Werber emphasized that he particularly liked the author’s “writing style” in this work.
He stated, “The story progresses in the first-person present tense, allowing for complete immersion in the protagonist and a direct emotional experience.”
He further added, “From reading this book and learning its contents, the courage of Koreans, who remain resolute and look forward to the future even when faced with tragedy or war, resonated deeply with me. Through learning about Korea’s painful history, I came to understand the steadfast resolve of Koreans.”
French daily Le Monde previously noted last year about “I Do Not Say Goodbye,” stating, “It immerses you in a wondrous fantasy without losing sight of the realistic and historical contexts.”