Acclaimed South Korean Author Baek Se-hee Passes Away at 35, Leaves Legacy Through Writing and Organ Donation

Published: 17 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. English Chronicle Online

The literary world mourns the loss of Baek Se-hee, the celebrated South Korean author of the bestselling memoir I Want to Die but I Want To Eat Tteokbokki, who has died at the age of 35. Her book, first published in 2018, captured global attention with its candid exploration of depression, mental health, and the delicate balance between despair and small joys in life. The memoir, which recounts her conversations with a psychiatrist, resonated with millions of readers for its unflinching honesty and emotional depth.

Originally written in Korean, the book gained international acclaim after its English translation was published in 2022. It has since sold over a million copies worldwide and has been translated into 25 languages, solidifying Baek’s reputation as a vital voice in contemporary literature. Through her writing, she played a pivotal role in normalizing conversations around mental health, offering readers a glimpse into her personal struggles while simultaneously providing comfort and understanding.

The circumstances surrounding Baek’s death remain unclear. However, in a statement on Friday, the Korean Organ Donation Agency revealed that she had donated her heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, saving five lives. Her sister reflected on Baek’s enduring desire to “share her heart with others through her work, and to inspire hope,” underscoring her compassionate and selfless nature.

Baek’s memoir became widely known for its poignant and often strikingly relatable line: “The human heart, even when it wants to die, quite often wants at the same time to eat some tteokbokki, too.” Tteokbokki, a popular Korean snack of chewy rice cakes in a spicy sauce, became emblematic of the tension between life’s struggles and its simple pleasures that defined her narrative. Her sequel, I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki, continued to explore these themes and was translated into English in 2024, further expanding her international readership.

Born in 1990, Baek Se-hee studied creative writing at university and later spent five years working at a publishing house. She openly shared her decade-long experience with dysthymia, a persistent form of depression, which formed the foundation of her literary work. Anton Hur, her English translator, highlighted her profound impact, writing on social media that while her organs have saved five lives, “her readers will know she touched yet millions of lives more with her writing.”

Tributes have poured in from across social media, with readers expressing deep gratitude for her honesty and vulnerability. Many have reflected on the comfort and inspiration they found in her words, acknowledging the courage it takes to turn personal pain into a source of hope for others. Baek Se-hee’s work and her final act of generosity ensure that her influence will endure, inspiring conversations about mental health and human resilience for years to come.

Her passing marks a profound loss to literature and to the many lives she touched, both through her heartfelt storytelling and her remarkable act of giving.