Baek Se-hee, the author who comforted many readers with "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki," has passed away at the age of 35.
The Korea Organ Donation Agency announced on the 17th that Baek was declared brain dead at Ilsan Hospital of the National Health Insurance Service on the 16th and donated her heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys. Thanks to her organ donation, five lives have been given a new chance.
Born in 1989 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, as the second of three daughters, Baek majored in creative writing in college and worked at a publishing company for five years. She made her debut as an author in 2018 with "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki," which documented her journey of treating her depression. The book quickly became a bestseller and sparked social awareness about mental health.
Baek candidly shared her experiences from counseling after being diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder, earning the support of many readers. She later published works such as "I Don't Think Anyone Loves You as Much as I Do" and continued her efforts to improve mental health awareness through lectures.
Her sister, Baek Da-hee, expressed her condolences, saying, "She was a sister who wanted to write, share her heart with people through her writing, and nurture hope. Now, I hope she rests peacefully in heaven."
Lee Sam-yeol, director of the Korea Organ Donation Agency, stated, "The choice of the deceased, who practiced love until the last moment of life, has become a new beginning for someone. That warm sharing will make our society healthier."
