Nobel Prize winner Han Kang’s income 5 times that of top domestic executives: analysts

South Korean author Han Kang poses for the media during a news conference in Seoul, South Korea, May 24, 2016. Photo by AP

According to Nate, Han received 11 million Swedish krona in prize money, equivalent to 1.44 billion won (US$1.04 million), from the Nobel Foundation.

In addition, her book sales in South Korea have surpassed 1 million copies and are projected to soon reach 2 million. Typically, authors receive around 10% of the book price per copy sold. With each of her books averaging 15,000 won, Han has already earned approximately 1.5 billion won from the 1 million copies sold.

She also recently received the Ho-Am Prize for Arts, which carries a reward of 300 million won, and the Pony Chung Innovation Award, which grants an additional 200 million won.

Moreover, Han benefits from selling foreign rights to her books. According to Munhakdongne, her works have drawn increased attention at the 2024 Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, one of the industry’s most significant events. Since her Nobel win, the price for rights transfers has tripled or quadrupled.

Experts believe the "Han Kang phenomenon" could reinvigorate South Korea’s publishing industry and reading culture, according to Jejunews. Last year, South Koreans read an average of just 3.9 books, with six out of 10 adults not reading at all.

Reports indicate that credit card purchases of Han’s books have surged 600-fold since she won the award. Beyond buying her books, many readers are also flocking to libraries to borrow. According to the National Library of Korea, 11,365 copies of Han’s books were borrowed between October 10 and 14, averaging three copies per minute.

On Monday, the National Library of Korea unveiled a special section dedicated to Han’s works, featuring 14 books published domestically and 79 translated into 28 different languages.

The phenomenon has also sparked greater interest in literature about South Korean history. Veteran artist Yoo Seung Yeop composed a celebratory song titled "Vegetarian’s Dream" in honor of Han’s Nobel achievement. Newsis describes the song as having an uplifting and hopeful melody, reflecting national pride.

Han became the first South Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature on October 10 for her work exploring the connections between psychological and physical suffering and historical events, AFP reported.

The 53-year-old novelist and short story writer was honored "for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life," the Swedish Academy said.

She is best known for her book "The Vegetarian," a three-part narrative that explores a woman’s decision to stop eating meat and the resulting turmoil in her life.