I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Hwang Sok-yong nominated for Man Booker International Award
Hwang Sok-yong / Korea Times file
By Kang Hyun-kyung
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Hwang Sok-yong, 76, was nominated for the 2019 Man Booker International Prize, three years after Han Kang became the first Korean to win the internationally renowned award in 2016 for “The Vegetarian.”
On Tuesday, the selection committee unveiled a long list of 13 works, including Hwang's “At Dusk,” for the award. The fiction revolves around a self-made man Park Min-woo who is serving as director of an architectural firm in Seoul. His life takes a turn after he receives a message from a childhood friend.
The Man Booker International Prize selects the finest translated work every year and awards both the writer and the translator. Korean-American Sora Kim-Russell who translated Hwang's fiction into English is also nominated for the award.
In 2016, Han Kang and British translator Deborah Smith, who translated “The Vegetarian,” won the prizes together.
The committee will unveil a shortlist of six final works on April 9 and the final winners will be announced on May 21.
Hwang is one of the greatest Korean writers of his time. Debuting as a fiction writer in 1962, he gained fame for his 1973 novel “On the Road to Sampo.” It describes the struggles of the urban poor.
He has since written many novels. He has won numerous literary awards, including the Manhae Literary Award and Isang Literary Award.