Nobel Prize laureate Han Kang delivers a speech at the Innovation Prize awards ceremony organized by Korea's Pony Chung Foundation in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Nobel Prize laureate Han Kang on Thursday recalled the past week after her historic win as one that will be remembered as "touching," and said she hopes to continue to write and meet readers through her books.

Han made the remarks as she attended an awards ceremony organized by South Korea's Pony Chung Foundation in a rare public appearance after her prize win. Han was selected as the foundation's Innovation Prize winner on Sept. 19.

Since winning the Nobel Prize last week, Han has refrained from publicity events with the exception of a brief interview conducted at her residence with the Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

"When I was first informed by the Nobel Prize committee, it didn't feel real, and I simply tried to calmly carry out a conversation," Han said. "It was after hanging up the phone and checking the media reports that a sense of reality emerged. I had a quiet celebration that night."

Going forward, Han said she hopes to continue to do what she has done.

"I'm a person who is connected with the world through my writings. Like I have done until now, I wish to write on and meet readers in the books," Han said, adding she hopes her daily life will not become that different following the prize win.

Han said she is working to complete a novel she first started writing in spring.

"Hopefully it would be nice if the new book can meet (readers) in the first half of next year. But since my own predictions on the timing of completing a novel have always been wrong, it is difficult for me to pinpoint a certain period."

Novelist Han Kang signs her book during the Innovation Prize awards ceremony organized by Korea's Pony Chung Foundation in Seoul, Thursday. This marks Han's first public appearance after winning the Nobel Prize in Literature last week. Yonhap

In her acceptance speech for the Pony Chung Innovation Prize, Han said she likes to spend her days strolling and contemplating novels she hopes to write.

"I like walking," she said, mentioning that she is often asked about what makes her happy as a person who does not drink alcohol and caffeinated drinks, and rarely travels.

"I try to not to miss the good books that pour out, but I also like my bookshelf where books I have read and those that I have not yet nestle together. I like the days where I share laughter and jokes with my loving family and caring friends."

Her most favorite time is when she "swirls novels she would like to write inside (her) mind."

"I put importance on the process of imagining the outline of novels I have yet to write, write as they come to my mind, erase out parts that are lengthier than parts that have been written, and getting to know about the characters through various ways," Han said.

"When I actually start to write, I inevitably lose my path and am taken by surprise when I turn the corner and enter an unexpected area. The joy of taking the long way around and finally moving forward for completion is big."

Han, who turns 54 next month, said she would like to focus on writing three books before she turns 60.

"For the next six years, I want to immerse myself in writing the three books that are currently swirling in my mind now," Han said. "In that process, I hope I do not lose patience and perseverance. At the same time, I want to try to reach the balance where (I can) calmly look after my daily life."

Han ended her acceptance speech by expressing gratitude to her readers of 30 years as well as publishers, bookstore owners and employees, and fellow writers, as well as her family and friends.

Past winners of the Pony Chung Innovation Prize include "Squid Game" director Hwang Dong-hyuk, award-winning pianist Cho Seong-jin and former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The Pony Chung Foundation, named after South Korean business mogul Chung Se-yung, was established in 2005 and has conducted projects supporting humanitarian studies. (Yonhap)