Baek Se-hee, author of I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki, dies at 35

Tragedy has struck the literary world as Baek Se-hee, the South Korean author behind the bestselling memoir "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki", has passed away at the age of 35. Her poignant and deeply personal book, which delves into her struggles with depression and mental health, resonated profoundly with readers worldwide.

Originally written in Korean and translated into English just two years ago, Baek's memoir has captured the hearts of millions, including those who've found comfort in its honest portrayal of inner turmoil. The book's international success is a testament to Baek's unique voice and her ability to normalize conversations around mental health.

Baek Se-hee's journey was marked by both triumph and struggle, as she worked tirelessly to share her story with the world. Born in 1990, she pursued creative writing during university and spent five years working at a publishing house before dedicating herself full-time to her craft.

Tragically, Baek's life was cut short when she passed away under unclear circumstances. Her legacy lives on through her incredible body of work, which has touched the lives of countless individuals worldwide. "The human heart, even when it wants to die, quite often wants at the same time to eat some tteokbokki," a line from her book encapsulates the complex and often contradictory nature of mental health.

Baek's organs have been donated, saving the lives of five people, and her writing continues to inspire hope in those who've found solace in her words. As tributes pour in on social media, Baek's family and fans are left to grapple with the devastating loss of a talented young writer who left an indelible mark on the literary world.

Baek Se-hee's story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the impact that one person can have on another. Her life, though cut short, will continue to be celebrated for its beauty, vulnerability, and unflinching honesty.

The news of Baek Se-hee's passing is a devastating blow to the literary community . Her memoir, which so courageously explored her struggles with depression and mental health, has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on millions of lives worldwide . As someone who has followed her work, I must say that her unique voice and unflinching honesty are qualities that we need more of in our world right now . It's disheartening to think that she won't be able to see the ripple effects of her book on a global scale , but at least her legacy lives on through her writing and the countless lives she has touched . Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of prioritizing mental health awareness and supporting those who are struggling .

just heard the news about Baek Se-hee she was so talented & her book changed lives i'm still in shock her story is a reminder that mental health matters ️ everyone's struggling with it, even if they don't show it on social media we need more people like Baek Se-hee who are willing to share their voices & help others feel less alone it's not just about writing, it's about breaking down stigmas & building community tteokbokki might be her claim to fame, but her legacy is so much bigger

omg I was just thinking about this amazing tteokbokki recipe I tried last week it's literally the best thing since sliced bread i mean have you ever had a spicy tomato-based sauce with chewy rice cakes? I swear it's life changing. baek se-hee's book was so inspiring but let's be real who doesn't love tteokbokki on a cold day I'm gonna go make some right now wanna come over for a taste test?

this is such a sad news... Baek Se-hee's book was like a breath of fresh air, you know? it's crazy that her struggles with mental health were so relatable and honest. i mean, tteokbokki is supposed to be a comfort food in korea, but for someone struggling with depression, eating it might actually feel like a coping mechanism . anyway, her legacy lives on through her writing and the fact that she gave her organs away to save others... that's just amazing . i'm gonna miss reading about her thoughts and feelings so much

omg i'm literally sobbing over here... Baek Se-hee was more than just an author she was a beacon of hope and light in the dark world of mental health her book "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki" is more than just a memoir its like a mirror held up to our souls we're all struggling with something deep down and Baek's words were like a gentle nudge that said "hey its okay to feel this way"

i remember reading her book and feeling seen and heard for the first time in years it was like Baek was speaking directly to me without even knowing who i was she was so raw and honest about her struggles with depression and anxiety but she never lost hope and that's what inspired me to keep going

Baek's legacy lives on through her words which is truly a beautiful thing i mean we're still grieving the loss of this talented young writer but at least we know that her work will continue to touch hearts and inspire people for years to come

just heard about Baek Se-hee, the author of "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki" - it's so sad that her life was cut short at 35 . her book is like a breath of fresh air, you know? it's like she's speaking directly to your soul . i think what's crazy is how much impact one person can have on people's lives through their writing. baek's story might be over, but her words will live on and continue to inspire others . it's a reminder that we need to prioritize our mental health and support each other in being vulnerable about our struggles

Just saw the news about Baek Se-hee... 35 years old is way too young to leave us . According to her book's sales, it did over 1M copies in Korea alone within the first year of release . That's insane! And translated into English just 2 yrs ago, it's crazy how quickly her story connected with people worldwide . She had a huge following on Instagram too - over 230K followers . Mental health awareness is so important & Baek Se-hee was definitely a role model for many . Did you know that 1 in 4 people will experience mental illness each year? According to the World Health Organization, mental health issues cost the global economy $2.5 trillion annually . It's devastating to lose someone so talented at such a young age . Baek Se-hee's organs have been donated to save lives - that's amazing!

Here are some more stats about her book:
- Average reader age: 27 years old
- Book sold over 10M copies worldwide (as of 2025)
- Her memoir has a 4.8/5 rating on Goodreads with over 1M ratings
- The most common emotions people experience when reading her book are sadness, empathy & inspiration

just heard about Baek Se-hee, her book was so relatable I mean, who hasn't felt like they wanna die but still crave a good bowl of noodles tteokbokki is literally the comfort food of my life anyway, it's crazy that she passed away at 35, feels like we're just getting started with her story donating her organs was such an amazing thing to do can't wait to dive back into her writing and learn more about her journey

i cant even right now... just thinking about baek se-hee's story is giving me chills... she was so brave to share her struggles with the world, and it's heartbreaking that we lost her way too soon her book has been a lifeline for so many people, including mine, and it's going to be such a huge loss to all of us who loved her work i keep thinking about all the people she touched through her writing... five lives saved by her generous decision to donate her organs is just the most amazing thing, it's like she's still with us in some way baek se-hee may be gone but her legacy will live on forever, and we'll continue to celebrate her life and work for years to come

just found out about Baek Se-hee, the author of "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki" she's only 35 which is so young to go... i mean her book is literally changing lives and now we're all left wondering what could've been done differently mental health is still such a big stigma and it's amazing that she was able to share her story in a way that resonated with so many people her legacy will live on through her writing which is honestly the most beautiful thing... can't help but feel a little sad for everyone who knew her or read her book

sad news about Baek Se-hee's passing... her memoir was so raw and honest, it's crazy she had to deal with all that and still managed to share it with the world... 35 is way too young to go . i mean, her writing did make a huge impact on people's lives, but at what cost? i'm glad her organs were donated, that's amazing, but it doesn't change the fact she had to leave us too soon . mental health awareness is super important, and Baek Se-hee was definitely a shining example of that... let's keep celebrating her life and work, while also acknowledging the impact her passing has on those who loved her

Man... 35 is crazy young . It's like she was just getting started with her writing career and mental health advocacy. You know what really gets me though? The government should have done more to support her and other mental health advocates. I mean, we've got initiatives for cancer research and HIV awareness, but not enough for mental health . Baek's book was like a breath of fresh air, you know? It humanized mental illness and showed us that it's okay to talk about it. We need more people like her who aren't afraid to share their struggles . Anyway, I guess this is just another example of how society values productivity over well-being .

just heard about Baek Se-hee... her story is so hauntingly beautiful it's crazy how much comfort we find in sharing our darkest moments with others. writing has a way of bridging gaps between us, you know? i think we can all learn from baek's courage to be vulnerable and honest about her struggles. mental health awareness needs more voices like hers & now that she's gone, we're left with just her incredible words

Man, 35 is way too young ... Baek Se-hee's story is so inspiring, but also really heartbreaking . I mean, her book was like a breath of fresh air, you know? She wasn't afraid to talk about the dark stuff and how it affects people's lives. It's crazy that she left us too soon . Her legacy will live on through her writing, which is just... wow . And can we talk about the line about wanting to eat tteokbokki when you're feeling suicidal? That's just so raw and honest. I'm gonna miss reading more of her stuff .

just learned about Baek Se-hee's passing... super sad her book was like my go-to when I needed to process emotions... can we get more info on what happened? her family's not saying much... seems weird considering how open she was about mental health

man I'm so sad to hear about Baek Se-hee she was such an inspiring writer her book is like a breath of fresh air you know? it's amazing how much comfort and hope her words brought to people around the world. five years too young anyway her organs are donated to help others which is just the best karma ever i'm not even going to lie I've read her book and it's literally changed my perspective on mental health completely I think we need more writers like Baek Se-hee who aren't afraid to talk about their struggles and what they're going through it's okay to ask for help too, you know?

35 is young! I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. I've read her book and it's so powerful... but we're only getting the truth from her family and fans now? What about the investigation into her passing? How do we know she died under unclear circumstances? Are there any statements from the authorities yet? I need some solid info here before I can even think about mourning.

just heard about Baek Se-hee I'm literally shookt she was like 35 yrs old?! her book 'I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki' is like so raw & honest it's crazy how much comfort people got from reading it two yrs ago now that she's gone it feels like a loss not just for her fans but for the whole literary world her legacy lives on thru her writing tho which is what matters

Ugh, I'm still trying to process this news... it's just so sad . Baek Se-hee's memoir was more than just a book - it was a lifeline for so many people who've struggled with mental health. And now she's gone? It's like the world has lost a piece of itself . I mean, I know her story is inspiring and all that, but can we talk about how frustrating it is to see another talented writer cut their life short? I mean, what was going on behind those scenes that we don't even get to know? It's just not fair... And now we're left with this huge void in the literary world. I guess all we can do is keep reading her work and hope it continues to inspire others