Major South Korean bookstores sold out of author Han Kang's books Friday, as sales skyrocketed and the share price of local publishers soared following her historic Nobel Prize win.

South Koreans reacted with joy and astonishment on Thursday after learning that homegrown writer Han Kang won the Nobel Prize in literature, an unexpected moment that stoked national pride about the country’s growing cultural influence.

South Koreans rushed to obtain books by author Han Kang after her Nobel Prize win in Literature. Her achievement marks the first time a Korean has won this award, prompting a surge in book sales. Han's novels tackle historical themes,