The Nobel prize in literature was last week awarded to 53-year-old South Korean novelist Han Kang, who is the first writer from South Korea to receive the Nobel prize.
The author is known for her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life".
Born in 1970 in South Korea, Han was a recipient of the Yi Sang Literary Award, the Today's Young Artist Award and the Manhae Prize for Literature.
In light of her most recent accolade, Life highlights some of her best works.
The Vegetarian
Published in Korea in 2007, The Vegetarian won the 2016 International Booker Prize after it was translated into English. It centres on a depressed housewife who shocks her family when she stops eating meat. Later, she stops eating altogether and yearns to turn into a tree that can live off sunlight alone.
Greek Lessons
Kang's most recent book, Greek Lessons tells a beautiful story of a teacher who loses his sight and a pupil her voice. The two struggle with their lives, and fate brings them together, showing them they're not the only ones suffering. The book is co-translated by Smith and E Yaewon.
Human Acts
The novel explores the events of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising in South Korea that was brutally suppressed by the government. While portraying many characters, Human Acts centres around Dong-ho, a middle-school boy killed by the army during the uprising. Through the perspectives of these characters, the novel touches on themes of trauma, grief and the long-lasting effects of state violence on individuals and society as a whole.
The White Book
Translated by Deborah Smith, The White Book is a lyrical journey through the author's grief of losing her mother. It is Han's third book and is written through the prism of the colour white.
We Do Not Part
An exploration of Korea's historical traumas through the story of a writer who discovers how her friend's family was impacted by the 1948/49 Jeju Massacre, We Do Not Part tells the story of a friendship between two women -- Kyungha and Inseon -- while reckoning with a hidden chapter of Korean history.
