Nobel Laureate Han Kang Secures US National Book Critics Circle Award for 'We Do Not Part'

Nobel laureate Han Kang earns the prestigious NBCC Award for her novel We Do Not Part, a poetic exploration of the 1948 Jeju Uprising and historical trauma.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 2, 2026, 11:49 AM EDT

Source: The Korea Times

A Prestigious Honor in American Literature

In a significant milestone for South Korean literature, the National Book Critics Circle announced on Thursday that Han Kang is the recipient of its annual award for fiction. Her novel, "We Do Not Part," has resonated deeply with American critics since its U.S. publication last year. The NBCC described the work as a "subtly rendered sketch of trauma," praising its atmospheric prose and its ability to navigate the complex intersection of truth, memory, and loss.

Historical Trauma and the Jeju Uprising

The narrative of "We Do Not Part" is rooted in the Jeju April 3 Uprising of 1948, a devastating period in modern Korean history. During this time, a protest against U.S. military-led rule was suppressed by the government under the false label of a communist revolt. The resulting violence led to the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. Han Kang utilizes the perspectives of three women to navigate this dark chapter, focusing on the grief of state-sponsored violence and the relentless search for missing loved ones.

Strategic Positioning in the Global Literary Market

This award marks a continued trend of international acclaim for Han Kang’s bibliography. "We Do Not Part" was originally published in Korean in 2021 and has since been translated into numerous languages, including French, Dutch, Chinese, and Japanese. The novel previously secured the Prix Medicis in France in 2023 and the Yomiuri Literary Award in Japan in 2025. This string of accolades highlights the successful strategic push by Korean publishers and translators to bring contemporary South Korean historical narratives to a Western audience.