The English translation of Han Kang's novel "We Do Not Part" has won the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) Award, one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the United States. It marks the first time a Korean author's work has won the award in the fiction category.
The NBCC selected "We Do Not Part" as the fiction winner at its 2025 awards ceremony held in New York on Monday. The English edition was translated by E. Yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris.
It is the second time a Korean author's work has received the NBCC Award, following poet Kim Hyesoon's poetry collection "Phantom Pain Wings," translated by Don Mee Choi and published in 2023.
The NBCC selects the best books published in English each year, presenting awards in six categories: fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, poetry and criticism. The award is considered one of the most authoritative literary prizes in the United States alongside the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, as American book critics apply rigorous standards to select the best work in each field.
