- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 18 Oct 2025 03:31 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Baek Se-hee death: Baek Se-hee, the acclaimed South Korean author known for her bestselling memoir I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, has died at the age of 35, the Korea Organ Donation Agency confirmed on Thursday. The cause of her death has not been disclosed, but officials said Baek donated her heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, saving five lives. Her passing has sparked an outpouring of grief from readers across the world, many of whom said her words gave them comfort during their darkest moments.
Bestselling Voice On Mental Health
Baek Se-hee rose to prominence in 2018 with I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, a candid account of her therapy sessions and long battle with dysthymia, a persistent form of mild depression. The book, which combined memoir and self-help, struck a deep chord with young readers in South Korea and later internationally.
Translated into more than 25 languages, including English in 2022, the book became a global phenomenon. It sold over one million copies and appeared on bestseller lists in the UK and the US.“The human heart, even when it wants to die, quite often wants at the same time to eat some tteokbokki, too,” Baek famously wrote — a line that came to define her delicate balance between despair and hope.
Her translator, Anton Hur, paid tribute on Instagram, saying Baek “touched millions of lives with her writing” and that her legacy “will continue to help those still struggling to find light.” Baek’s younger sister, Baek Da-hee, released a statement through the organ donation agency, remembering her as “a kind soul who loved deeply and hated no one.” She added, “My sister always wanted to share her heart with others and give people hope. I pray she now rests peacefully.” Bloomsbury Publishing, which brought her work to English-speaking audiences, called Baek’s storytelling “a gift to readers everywhere,” praising her honesty and vulnerability in exploring mental health.
Legacy Beyond Words
Born in 1990, Baek majored in creative writing at university and was an editor for a publishing house before publishing her first memoir. Her frank talks about depression, anxiety, and therapy served to demystify mental illness in South Korea, where they are usually off-limits subjects.
Her second book, I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki, was released in Korean in 2019 and was translated into English in 2024. The second book furthered her musings on self-acceptance, healing, and the daily struggle of living. Baek Se-hee's passing leaves a trail that extends beyond books. Through her work, she pioneered conversations that many were too afraid to have.
On social media, tributes roll in. "Rest peacefully, Thanks for saving us through your honesty," one commenter posted. Baek Se-hee's novels are still a lifeline for so many, a testament that even during desperation, there is always space for small pleasures, such as a warm bowl of tteokbokki.