People line up to purchase books by Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang at Kyobo Book Centre's Gwanghwamun branch in Jongno, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

A growing line of excited readers awaited the opening of Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, on Friday morning.

Chae Yoon-won, 27, who arrived early, said, "I've always enjoyed reading Han Kang's poetry and novels, and after hearing about her Nobel Prize win last night, I couldn't sleep and came straight out to buy her books."

She added, "I usually borrow from the library, but this time, I felt I had to own a copy."

The previous day, novelist Han Kang, 54, made history as the first Korean to win the Nobel Prize in literature, and by the next day, bookstores were bustling with people eager to get their hands on her works. Some shoppers lined up before the stores opened, while others left disappointed as stock quickly sold out.

Some, surprised by the long queues, asked, "Is this for a book signing?" or "Is this really the line for Han Kang's books?" as they hurried to join the crowd.

An Seong-gyu, 37, who traveled from Yongin, said, "I came to get a book for my mother, who loves Han Kang. I've never seen a bookstore this crowded before."

People line up at a Kyobo Book Centre in Seoul to purchase books by novelist Han Kang, Friday. Yonhap

As demand surged, some stores limited purchases to one copy per person. Others, like Kyobo's Gangnam branch, had already sold out of Han Kang's works, with buyers left to place reservations.

Kim Mi-sun, 60, said, "I've never read her books, but now I'm curious after the award." She sighed, "I thought if I came early, there would still be copies, but they're all gone."

Foreign customers also flocked to buy her works. Ruben Carranza, a 59-year-old American, said, "I came first thing in the morning. I love how her writing weaves societal issues into personal narratives."

Sabina Liemenschneider, a 56-year-old from Belgium, said, "I read 'The Vegetarian' in English and was impressed by the narrative style. I'm here to explore more of her works."

Han Kang's alma mater, Yonsei University, celebrated the win as well. Lee Jin-myung, president of the Yonsei Literary Society, said, "When the news broke in our group chat, everyone was thrilled. We're planning to create a card news series with reviews of her works."

Many students, including Mok Ji-su, 25, expressed pride, saying, "I applied to this school because of Han Kang. When the announcement came, I was so overjoyed, I closed my eyes and thought, 'If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up.'"

People stand in a long line outside Kyobo Book Centre's Gwanghwamun branch in Seoul to purchase books by Han Kang, Friday. Yonhap

Meanwhile, online discussions revisited an old controversy where the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education once classified Han Kang's "The Vegetarian" as harmful reading and ordered its removal from school libraries.

In response, some netizens called for the book to be reinstated and recommended for young readers. An education office official said, "We never ordered a specific book's removal, that decision was made by each school's library committee. We also don't plan to promote specific authors' works."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.