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Han Kang celebrates Spanish publication of 'The Wind Blows, Go.' with appearance in Barcelona

Published: 22 Apr. 2026, 15:19

KIM JI-YE
[email protected]

Nobel laureate Han Kang, left, speaks during an event held at the Contemporary Culture Center of Barcelona in Spain on April 21. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

Author Han Kang made her first public appearance since winning the 2024 Nobel Prize in Spain on Tuesday to celebrate the release of the Spanish edition of her 2010 book, “The Wind Blows, Go.” The book, released in March, is Han’s eighth work to be published in Spain.

The event was held at the Contemporary Culture Center of Barcelona and was hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Spain.

Han sat down with Spanish author Mar Garcia Puig for a conversation on “extreme empathy.”

“The two authors explored Han Kang’s literary world through key themes of the contemporary era, including collective trauma, mourning, silence and friendship, while continuing their discussion on whether literature can resist forgetting and serve a role in caring for collective wounds,” the Korean Cultural Center said in a press release.

The event had 600 on-site seats, which sold out within a minute, as well as an additional 200 online streaming spots, which also sold out in 10 minutes, according to the center.

Attendees gather at an event with Nobel laureate Han Kang held at the Contemporary Culture Center of Barcelona in Spain on April 21 [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

“The fact that the first public event with general readers following the Nobel Prize in Literature was held in Spain underscores the strong local interest in Korean literature,” said Shin Jae-kwang, the center’s director.

“We plan to actively work to ensure that this interest continues to grow over the long term and leads to meaningful exchanges.”

BY KIM JI-YE [[email protected]]