Baek Se-hee, Author of I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki, Dies at 35 — Leaving Behind a Legacy of Vulnerability and Hope
Prior to her death, the author opened up about her depression and anxiety in the 2018 best-selling memoir, “I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki.”
Baek Se-hee, the South Korean author whose quiet honesty helped millions confront their own hidden pain, has died at the age of 35. The Korean Organ Donation Agency announced her passing on Thursday, without disclosing the cause of death.
Baek became a literary voice for a generation that often felt unheard. Her memoir, I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki, was a raw, intimate window into her therapy sessions — a young woman trying to make sense of why life felt unbearable even when everything seemed “fine.” Through her words, she articulated what so many could not: the paradox of wanting to die while still craving small joys, like the warmth of her favorite street food, tteokbokki.
Published in 2018, her book struck a chord in South Korea, where mental health remains a deeply stigmatized topic. Readers found comfort in her willingness to speak openly about depression, anxiety, and the search for self-worth. When the English translation arrived in 2022, her quiet rebellion against silence spread across the globe — climbing bestseller lists in the UK and finding a home in hearts far beyond Seoul.
“Even when I changed all the parts of my life that I had wanted to change — my weight, education, partner, and friends — I was still depressed,” Baek wrote. “I didn’t always feel that way, but I would go in and out of a funk that was as inevitable as bad weather.”
It was this honesty — the refusal to simplify her pain or disguise it behind a smile — that made Baek’s writing so profoundly relatable. Her voice didn’t offer a neat solution to suffering; instead, it whispered, You are not alone.
A year after her debut, she continued that conversation with a follow-up memoir, I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki, chronicling her ongoing journey with dysthymia, a persistent low-level depression. For Baek, writing was not only an act of survival but also a bridge — connecting her inner chaos to readers who needed to see their reflection in someone else’s courage.
Born in 1990 as the second of three daughters, Baek studied creative writing and later worked as a social media director at a publishing house. It was during that time that she sought therapy and began documenting the conversations that would later move millions.
Her younger sister, Baek Da-hee, remembered her as a soul who “shared her heart with others through her writing, and hoped to nurture dreams of hope.” In her tribute, she wrote, “I know her kind heart, one that loved so much and hated no one, so I hope she now rests in peace in heaven. I love you so much.”
In death, Baek continued to give. The organ donation agency confirmed that she donated her heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys — saving the lives of five people.
Anton Hur, who translated her work into English, honored her on Instagram: “Her readers will know she touched yet millions of lives more with her writing. My thoughts are with her family.”
Baek Se-hee’s passing is a profound loss. But her words remain — soft, unflinching, and alive — reminding us that the act of surviving, even for one more day, can be both ordinary and extraordinary. Through her vulnerability, she gave permission for others to begin healing.
Her story will continue to whisper to those standing on the edge of despair: It’s okay to want to live, even when life feels impossible.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.