People line up to purchase books by Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang at Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, South Korea, on October 11, 2024. (Photo: Yonhap)

Author Han Kang became the first Korean writer and Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. After the award was announced Thursday, South Koreans flocked to book stores and crashed websites in a frenzy to snap up copies of the work of the novelist.

Han's works quickly filled all 10 slots on bookstore chain Kyobo's real-time list, with 60,000 copies of Han's books sold since early Friday, 451 times more than the day before. Shares of online book retailers such as YES24 and Millie Seojae skyrocketed on Friday, reaching the daily limit of 30%, after which trade is suspended.

Han's works are known for their profound and humanistic narratives. Another work by Han, "The Vegetarian" won the Booker prize in 2016.

Meanwhile in Japan, Nihon Hidankyo, a leading organization of atomic bomb survivors, won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. Its representative, Tanaka Terumi, said: “This is the result of decades of relentless advocacy and struggle by Nihon Hidankyo for the complete abolition of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons cannot coexist with humanity and I’m very happy that the Nobel Committee and the world have recognized our efforts.”

Nihon Hidankyo began campaigning since August 1956, 11 years after two atomic bombings devastated the lives of hundreds of thousands in Hiroshima and Nagasaki of Japan. The organisation has since worked tirelessly towards nuclear disarmament and mobilized a global movement against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.