It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Baek Se-hee, the acclaimed South Korean author, at the age of 35. Baek rose to international prominence with her 2018 memoir, I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, a poignant collection of conversations with her psychiatrist that offered an honest and accessible glimpse into her struggles with depression.
The book, which resonated deeply with readers worldwide for its relatable and sensitive exploration of mental health, became a bestseller, selling over a million copies globally and being translated into 25 languages. Baek’s work has been credited with destigmatizing mental health discussions and providing comfort to many.
Her sister shared that Baek’s wish was to “share her heart with others through her work, and to inspire hope.” In her passing, Baek has continued this legacy by donating her organs, including her heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, which have now saved five lives.
Baek Se-hee, born in 1990, initially worked in publishing after studying creative writing. Her decade-long treatment for dysthymia, a persistent form of depression, formed the core of her impactful memoir. A sequel was published in Korean in 2019 and released in English in 2024.
The book’s most famous line, “The human heart, even when it wants to die, quite often wants at the same time to eat some tteokbokki, too,” beautifully encapsulates the complex emotions and simple joys that characterized her writing and her life.
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