Han Kang is a South Korean writer born on November 27, 1970. She is widely recognized for her literary accomplishments, notably for winning the prestigious Man Booker International Prize in 2016 for her novel The Vegetarian. The story narrates the harrowing descent into mental illness of a woman who is overlooked and misunderstood by her family.

Han Kang's work often delves into challenging themes such as human violence and the intricacies of human relationships. The Vegetarian is one of her first books to reach international audiences through translation into English, cementing her reputation as an influential voice in contemporary literature.