First Korean Nobel Prize for Literature

The third Nobel Literature Prize awarded to an Asian was to author Han Kang, who was the first Korean to receive the prize. The Catholic Times published the story in its 'Eyes of the Priest' column.

When Han Kang’s Nobel Prize was announced, her books sold like hotcakes. Online bookstores were so crowded with people trying to buy her books that it was difficult to even access them. People flocked to a small bookstore run by Han as if they were making a pilgrimage. This is how much interest in reading has increased since Han won the Nobel Prize.

In fact, the amount of reading by Koreans is embarrassing. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, only 43% of adults read at least one book last year, excluding exam preparation books or magazines, which is the lowest ever.

This number has been cut in half in 30 years compared to 1994 when the survey was first conducted. In other words, 6 out of 10 adults in our country do not read a single book in a year.

As people stop reading books, their ability to understand the meaning of text is declining. These days, adults criticize students who do not read books and only watch YouTube videos or short-form videos, but adults do not seem to be much different from those who do not read books.

Reading is an important part of religious life. All religions consider reading and meditating on their scriptures important. Catholics also call it ‘lectio divina’, sacred reading. Many people still copy passages of the Bible. Religious set aside time to read the Bible or books of saints in their daily routines to cultivate virtue. Not long ago, parishioners gave books as gifts when there was a baptism or confirmation at their parish. 

It is also good to read books written by Catholic writers who are devout in their faith. Good books are food for the soul.

The columnist congratulates the author on winning the Nobel Prize in Literature and says we all grow in wisdom through reading.

The Nobel Prize winner is a person who 'walks the talk'. She has declined to celebrate her Nobel Prize, seeing it as inappropriate while wars continue causing significant suffering and loss of life; she believes that in light of these global tragedies, to celebrate her personal good fortune would be insensitive and out of touch with our world reality.