South Korean author Baek Se-Hee, writer of I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, dies at 35
South Korean author Baek Se-hee, best known for her bestselling memoir I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, has died at age 35. Her works opened honest conversations about mental health and depression, inspiring readers around the world.
- Baek Se-Hee, 35, author of I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, has died, the Korean Organ Donation Agency confirmed on 16 October 2025.
- She donated her organs, saving five lives.
- Her memoirs helped destigmatize mental health discussions in South Korea and earned international acclaim.
SEOUL — South Korean author Baek Se-Hee, whose bestselling memoir I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki broke cultural taboos by openly addressing mental health and depression, has died at the age of 35, according to the Korean Organ Donation Agency on 16 October 2025.
Beloved author and mental health advocate
The agency did not disclose the cause of death but said Baek donated her heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys, saving five lives through organ donation.
Baek’s 2018 memoir combined personal reflection with therapy transcripts, offering a rare, raw glimpse into her struggles with dysthymia (persistent mild depression). Her candid approach inspired a new wave of openness about mental health in South Korea — a society where such discussions have often been silenced by stigma.
Global acclaim and impact
Following its English translation in 2022, I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki became an international phenomenon, appearing on The Sunday Times Bestsellers List and earning praise from The New York Times for its heartfelt portrayal of modern loneliness.
Baek’s follow-up book, I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki (2019), continued her exploration of healing, vulnerability, and the paradox of seeking joy amid despair.
Tributes from family and colleagues
Baek’s younger sister, Baek Da-hee, remembered her as “someone who shared her heart with others through writing and nurtured dreams of hope.”
Her English translator, Anton Hur, paid tribute on Instagram, saying Baek “touched millions of lives” and that her words “will continue to comfort and inspire readers around the world.”
Born in 1990, Baek studied creative writing before working as a social media director at a publishing house, where she began documenting her personal experiences with therapy and depression — a journey that would later resonate with millions.
