(한강) Han Kang, winner of the Man Booker International Prize for her novel, The Vegetarian, has come back with another novel in five years. Her new book focuses on the Jeju April 3rd Incident.
Stories told by her neighbors during monthlong stays in Jeju inspired her to write about the tragedy.
The book got listed as a best-seller as soon as it hit the bookshelves last week.
Mike Laidman reports.

Recording
Lines from"I Do Not Bid Farewell" - read by author
Rough snowflakes were falling from the sky. I stood on a field. One end of the field led to a low hill where thousands of big black trees ran from the ridge of the hill to the base.
"성근 눈이 내리고 있었다. 내가 서 있는 벌판의 한쪽 끝은 야트막한 산으로 이어져 있었는데 등성이에서부터 이편 아래쪽까지 수천 그루의 검은 통나무들이 심겨 있었다."

[Slug] Man Booker Int'l Prize winning-author releases new book

(한강) Han Kang, winner of the 2016 Man Booker International Prize for fiction for her novel, The Vegetarian, has released her next book.
[Slug] "I Do Not Bid Farewell" - focuses on Jeju April 3rd Incident

"I Do Not Bid Farewell", the title of her novel, is about the Jeju April 3rd Incident.

Recording
Han Kang / Author, "I Do Not Bid Farewell"
Sometimes I've said the book is about crossing over from death to life. Other times, about the Jeju April 3rd Incident…
<싱크 : 한강 / 작가>
"죽음에서 삶으로 건너가는 소설이라고 이야기했고 또 어떨때는 제주 4.3을 그린 소설이다 라고..."

[Slug] A tragic family story that revolves around April 3rd Incident

"I Do Not Bid Farewell" begins with a woman traveling to Jeju Island in 1948. She is confronted with the painful past of a family, still reeling from the events of the April 3rd massacre.
[Slug] Author inspired by stories from Jeju neighbors in 1990s

Han was inspired to write about the event by a story she was told about the massacre. During a three-month-long stay in Jeju in the 1990s, she was given details of the event by a neighbor of hers - an old woman who had experienced the atrocities.
The author said that writing the novel helped to heal her.

Recording
Han Kang / Author,"I Do Not Bid Farewell"
There was the pain of writing, of course. But the writing saved me from the pain at the same time because I constantly strove to reach astate of complete love.
<싱크 : 한강 / 작가>
"이 소설을 쓰는 것은 물론 고통도 있었지만 오히려 고통으로부터 저를 구해준 경험이었어요. 계속해서 지극한 사랑의 상태에 이르기 위해서 노력했기 때문에..."

[Slug] Love gives strength to us and to the lives of others

Han says the way that she writes about love in her new book gives strength to both her readers and to the lives of their loved ones. It can help comfort heavy hearts, hurt by the massacre.

Recording
Lines from"I Do Not Bid Farewell" - read by author
My mom looked back at the sound I made and touched my cheek with her hand. Then the back of my head, my shoulders, and back. That's when I knew how frightfully agonizing love is.
<싱크 : 작별하지 않는다 中 작가 낭독 >
"내 기척에 엄마가 돌아보고는 가만히 웃으며 내 뺨을 손바닥으로 쓸었어. 뒷머리도, 어깨도, 등도 이어서 쓰다듬었어. 그때 알았어. 사랑이 얼마나 무서운 고통인지..."

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Kim Yong-min
[Source] Publisher Munhakdongnae

"I Do Not Bid Farewell" climbed to the top of the best-seller list as soon as it was released last week. The book is especially popular among readers in their twenties.

Mike Laidman, KCTV