Interest in Han Kang, the first South Korean author to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, has surged worldwide. Recently, a copy of her acclaimed book The Vegetarian was stolen from the Korean Cultural Center in Belgium.
According to the cultural center, the book went missing from the library on the first floor of the Korean Cultural Center in Brussels on a Wednesday afternoon. Following Han Kang’s Nobel Prize win last week, the center anticipated increased local interest and established a dedicated section in the library featuring several of her notable works. They also announced the availability of the books and library hours through their Instagram account.
A representative from the cultural center stated, “After the weekend, we confirmed the book went missing shortly after the library opened yesterday (October 14). Among the various works of Han Kang available, the Korean edition of The Vegetarian has disappeared.”
“Our staff is aware of the CCTV cameras in the library, and given that outsiders have regular access to the space, we suspect this was the act of an external party. This incident reflects the heightened interest following her Nobel Prize win,” they added.
Meanwhile, following Han Kang’s Nobel Prize win, her books are facing shortages in several countries, including the UK, France, and the US. The well-known bookstore Foyles in London set up a Han Kang Special Corner the day after her award announcement on the 11th, displaying her works in their original Korean editions—however, nearly all of the books sold out within just one day.
The situation is similar in various bookstores across Paris, France. Due to the book shortage, stores are experiencing several-day delays in receiving new orders. The local publisher Grasset, which released the French edition of Han Kang’s The Vegetarian last year, reported, “We’re in a situation where we can’t sell books because they are out of stock.”
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