Han Kang's novel *We Do Not Part* has won the National Book Critics Circle Award (NBCC), one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the United States. It marks the first time a Korean novelist has won the award. Critics note the achievement is particularly significant given the traditionally conservative stance toward translated non-English literature in the American literary establishment.
The National Book Critics Circle selected the English edition of *We Do Not Part* as the winner in the fiction category at its 2025 awards ceremony held in New York on Monday. The English translation was done by E. Yaewon and Paige Morris.
The NBCC described the novel as "a delicate portrayal of the trauma left by the aftermath of the Jeju April 3 incident," calling it "a meditation on creation and truth amid loss." The organization added that "this artistic novel creates a haunting atmosphere and lingers like an overwhelming dream."
