Baek Se-hee, 35, Dies; Her Depression Memoir Resonates Worldwide

When Baek Se-hee, born in 1990, passed away on 16 October 2025 at a hospital in Goyang, South Korea, the literary world felt a sudden, jarring hush.

Her death, confirmed by the Korea Organ Donation Agency, came just a day before major Asian news outlets reported the loss. While the exact cause of death remains undisclosed, the agency verified that her heart, lungs, liver and kidneys were donated, turning a personal tragedy into a gift for strangers.

From a Quiet Childhood to a Loud Voice

Baek grew up in a modest household in Goyang, one of three sisters who learned early how to navigate a home marked by domestic violence. Her father’s frequent assaults on her mother left an indelible scar, pushing Baek toward introspection and, eventually, writing.

She earned a degree in creative writing from Dongguk University in Seoul and later spent five years as a social‑media director at an unnamed publishing house. It was during that stint that a persistent depressive disorder surfaced, leading to a decade‑long course of psychiatric therapy.

Baek’s early blog posts—raw, unfiltered accounts of therapy sessions—caught the eye of a reader who wrote, “It was like a light was shining into the darkness of my life.” The comment surprised Baek, who noted, “All I’d done was be honest in public, but here was someone comforted by that.” That moment sparked the idea that personal pain could become public solace.

The Memoir That Went Global

In 2018 she self‑published I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, a title that juxtaposes the abyss of suicidal thoughts with the simple pleasure of a beloved Korean street food. The manuscript caught the attention of Munhakdongne Publishing House, which acquired it later that year.

The book’s candid portrayal of Baek’s ten‑year therapy journey struck a chord. Sales quickly eclipsed the one‑million‑copy mark worldwide, and translations followed in fifteen languages, including an English edition released in 2022. A sequel, I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki, appeared in 2019 and reached English readers in 2024.

Critics called the memoir “a cultural touchstone for depression awareness” in South Korea, a country where mental health has long been a taboo topic. The book’s success helped open dialogue in classrooms, workplaces, and even government‑sponsored mental‑health campaigns.

Details of Her Passing and Organ Donation

Hospital records from the Goyang medical center indicate Baek was admitted on 14 October with symptoms that were never publicly disclosed. Two days later, she was declared dead. The Korea Organ Donation Agency, which operates under the National Medical Center in Seoul, confirmed that all four major organs were successfully retrieved for transplantation.

Family members – her mother, father and two sisters – were briefed by agency officials, who emphasized Baek’s own wishes to become an organ donor. “She wanted her life to continue in the lives of others,” a spokesperson said, echoing a sentiment that many fans expressed on social media.

• Date of death: 16 October 2025
• Location: Hospital in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province
• Organs donated: heart, lungs, liver, kidneys
• Memoir sales: >1 million copies globally
• Translations: 15 languages

Reactions: Grief, Praise, and Calls for Action

The news rippled across continents. In Seoul, a candlelight vigil gathered over 300 fans outside Munhakdongne’s headquarters. “She gave us a language for our darkest moments,” said one attendee, clutching a copy of the memoir.

International outlets such as the BBC, The New York Times, and ETimes ran pieces highlighting how Baek’s narrative shifted cultural attitudes toward suicidal ideation. A mental‑health professor at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Lina Patel, observed, “Baek turned personal despair into a public education tool. Her death, while tragic, amplifies the urgency of accessible mental‑health services.”

South Korean officials also weighed in. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated, “We honor Baek’s contribution to destigmatizing depression. The government will continue to fund awareness campaigns inspired by her work.”

Looking Ahead: Her Legacy in Words and Organs

Publishers are already planning a posthumous anthology that will gather Baek’s blog entries, unpublished essays, and fan letters. The collection aims for release in early 2026, with proceeds earmarked for the Korea Suicide Prevention Center.

Meanwhile, the organs she donated have already saved multiple lives. A recipient of her kidney, 42‑year‑old teacher Kim Jae‑ho, told local media, “I feel a responsibility to live fully, as if I’m continuing Baek’s story through my own.” Such testimonies underline a poignant irony: Baek’s desire to keep living—embodied in her love for tteokbokki—now lives on inside strangers.

For readers still clutching her books, the message remains clear: the line between despair and everyday joy is razor‑thin, but it can be crossed. As Baek once wrote, “Even in the darkest night, a bite of tteokbokki can remind you that life still tastes sweet.”