South Korean Author Baek Se-hee Dies at 35, Leaves Legacy of Mental Health Advocacy

South Korean author Baek Se-hee, whose memoirs candidly explored depression and personal struggles, has died at the age of 35, the Korean Organ Donation Agency confirmed on October 17, 2025. Her passing has drawn widespread attention for both her literary impact and her final act of generosity.

Bold: Literary Career and Memoirs

Baek rose to prominence with her 2018 memoir, I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, which combined personal narrative and self-help insights. The book detailed her therapy sessions and internal conflicts, juxtaposing her suicidal thoughts with small pleasures, such as her love for tteokbokki, a traditional Korean street food.

Her honest portrayal of mental health struggles resonated strongly in South Korea, leading to national acclaim. When translated into English in 2022, the memoir reached international audiences, appearing on the Sunday Times Bestsellers List in the United Kingdom and earning recognition from the New York Times.

“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.”

In 2019, she published a follow-up memoir, I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki, chronicling her ongoing experience with dysthymia, a persistent low-level depression.

Bold: Early Life and Education

Born in 1990 as the second of three daughters, Baek studied creative writing at university. She later worked as a social media director at a publishing house, during which time she underwent treatment for depression. Her experiences during this period directly influenced her writing and her mission to address mental health openly.

Bold: Tributes and Family Reflections

Baek’s younger sister, Baek Da-hee, shared a moving tribute through the Korean Organ Donation Agency, remembering her sibling as a compassionate writer who sought to nurture hope through her work.

“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,” her sister said.

Anton Hur, Baek’s English translator and fellow author, also expressed condolences, noting her global influence: “Her readers will know she touched yet millions of lives more with her writing. My thoughts are with her family.”

Bold: Organ Donation and Legacy

Demonstrating her enduring compassion, Baek donated her heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys, saving the lives of five individuals. Her decision has been widely praised as a final testament to her dedication to helping others, even beyond her lifetime.

Baek Se-hee’s legacy endures through her literary contributions, her openness about mental health, and her lasting impact on readers worldwide. Her work continues to inspire dialogue around depression, resilience, and the importance of small joys in life.

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