Book-buying stampede greets South Korean's Nobel win

Customers spilled out of South Korea's bookshops and online stores crashed as readers tried to get their hands on the work of Han Kang, who won the Nobel prize in literature on Thursday.

- Ella Creamer

The country's largest book chain, Kyobo Book Centre, said sales of Han's books boomed yesterday and stocks sold out almost straight away, reported Reuters.

South Korean politicians, authors and readers celebrated her win. President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated her in a Facebook post, and in parliament multiple government hearings were paused as officials welcomed the news. Han is the first South Korean to have won the prestigious literature prize.

“I was very surprised when I was first told the news of the award. When the phone call ended, I slowly regained my sense of reality and started to feel emotional,” Han said. “Thank you very much for selecting me as the winner. The huge waves of warm congratulations that were delivered to me throughout the day were also surprising. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”