Baek Se-hee: The Author Who Touched Millions Before Her Unexpected Passing at 35
The literary world mourned on October 17, 2025, when news broke that South Korean author Baek Se-hee had passed away at just 35 years old. Known for her groundbreaking memoir that sparked global conversations about mental health and depression, Baek's death sent shockwaves through her devoted fanbase across continents. While the specific cause of her passing has not been publicly disclosed, what remains undeniable is the profound legacy she left behind through her courageous writing and selfless final act of organ donation.
Who Was Baek Se-hee?
Baek Se-hee emerged as one of South Korea's most influential contemporary authors, representing a generation of primarily female writers who dared to explore vulnerability, anxiety, and mental health struggles through deeply personal storytelling. Born in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, she was the second of three daughters in her family. Her journey to becoming a celebrated author was not straightforward or easy, but rather marked by personal challenges that would ultimately become the foundation of her literary success.
After graduating with a degree in creative writing, Baek began her professional career working at a publishing house where she spent five years in marketing. However, it was her personal decision to seek psychiatric help that would transform her life and, subsequently, impact millions of readers worldwide. She started attending therapy sessions to address her struggles with dysthymia, commonly known as persistent depressive disorder—a form of chronic, mild depression that persists over extended periods.
Free Online Notepad – Write, Save & Copy Notes Instantly (No Login)
The Book That Changed Everything
In 2018, Baek published her debut memoir titled "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki," a title that immediately captured attention with its paradoxical nature. The book represented something refreshingly honest in the literary landscape, blending personal essay with elements of self-help guidance while maintaining an unflinching vulnerability throughout its pages.
The memoir derived its distinctive title from Baek's favorite Korean street food—tteokbokki, a spicy rice cake dish beloved across South Korea. The juxtaposition between wanting to die and wanting to eat this beloved comfort food symbolized the complex emotional landscape that many people experience: the simultaneous existence of despair alongside appreciation for life's small pleasures.
Within the pages of this memoir, readers discovered transcripts of conversations between Baek and her psychiatrist. These weren't heavily filtered or polished therapeutic exchanges, but rather raw, honest discussions about living with depression in modern society. The book tackled themes of functionality versus fulfillment, exploring what it feels like to appear fine on the surface while experiencing persistent emotional emptiness. One particularly resonant phrase from the book described this experience as living a life that was "functional but hollow"—a description that seemed to resonate with countless readers who had never seen their own experiences articulated so clearly.
The response to the memoir was extraordinary. Within South Korea, the book became a runaway bestseller, sparking widespread conversations about mental health, therapy, and the importance of psychological wellness in a society often characterized by high achievement pressures and perfectionist expectations. Readers felt seen, understood, and less alone in their struggles. For many, discovering Baek's words felt like finding a lifeline they didn't know they needed.
Free QR Code Generator Online – Create & Download QR Codes Instantly
International Success and Global Impact
The success didn't remain confined to South Korea's borders. When the memoir was translated into English in 2022, it reached audiences worldwide and achieved remarkable international recognition. The book climbed the Sunday Times Bestsellers List in the United Kingdom, proof of its universal appeal and relevance. The New York Times took notice and offered a recommendation, introducing the book to millions of American readers who were hungry for authentic discussions about mental health.
This global expansion meant that Baek's message about living with depression, the value of therapy, and the importance of self-compassion reached across cultural boundaries. Readers from different countries, backgrounds, and experiences found themselves reflected in her words. Online communities formed around discussions of her work, and social media platforms became spaces where readers shared how her writing had impacted their own journeys with mental health.
A Prolific Literary Career
While "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki" remained her most famous work, Baek continued to establish herself as a dedicated and prolific writer. In 2019, she released a sequel titled "I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki," continuing the exploration of what she described as "a life that goes on, even when the pain doesn't vanish." This follow-up work demonstrated her commitment to ongoing, honest conversation about the complexities of managing mental health long-term.
Beyond her memoirs, Baek collaborated with other writers to create additional works. In 2021, she worked with fellow authors on "No One Will Ever Love You as Much as I Do," and in 2022, she co-authored "I Want to Write, I Don't Want to Write." These collaborations showed Baek's versatility and her willingness to engage with different creative projects and perspectives. In June 2025, just months before her death, she published her first work of fiction, "A Will from Barcelona," marking an exciting new direction in her literary journey.
Beyond the Written Word
Baek understood that her influence extended beyond her published works. She regularly engaged with readers through talk concerts, lectures, and public events where she discussed mental health, writing, and the therapeutic power of sharing one's story. During these appearances, she opened up about her own ongoing struggles with dysthymia, demonstrating that mental health challenges require continuous management and self-compassion.
Free Online Image Converter- Ayoob Tools
In a 2023 conversation with PEN Transmissions, Baek reflected on how her writing journey began on her personal blog, where she initially published fragments from her psychiatric consultations. She recalled a pivotal moment when someone left a comment saying that reading her words had helped them recognize their own symptoms. "That was the first time I understood that writing about myself could help others," she explained. This realization became the driving force behind her commitment to vulnerable, honest storytelling.
Her English translator, Anton Hur, recognized the significance of her work and helped bring her message to international audiences. Hur paid tribute to Baek through social media, stating that her readers would understand how extensively she had touched millions of lives through her heartfelt writing. Her impact transcended the reader-author relationship; she had become a voice for the voiceless and a companion to countless individuals navigating their own mental health journeys.
The Circumstances of Her Death
The exact cause and specific date of Baek Se-hee's death were not made public by her family or medical authorities, leaving many questions unanswered. What is known is that she was declared brain-dead and passed away at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, located in Gyeonggi Province, north of Seoul. Some early reports indicated that she did not regain consciousness after the brain death determination, though detailed medical information remained undisclosed.
AI Photo Generator from photo: 4 Simple Steps
Despite the limited public information about the cause of death, one aspect of her passing was made abundantly clear: Baek's final act reflected the same generosity of spirit that defined her life and writing. In keeping with her character as someone described by those close to her as incapable of harboring hatred and filled with boundless kindness, she became an organ donor.
A Legacy of Life-Giving
According to the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, Baek's donation proved to be extraordinarily significant. Her heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys were successfully recovered and transplanted, saving the lives of five people. This act of organ donation, made possible by her family's decision to honor what they believed Baek would have wanted, transformed her death from a loss into an opportunity for others to live.
Lee Sam Yeol, director of the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, released a statement expressing gratitude for this generous gift: "We are deeply grateful for the warm-hearted love shown by donor Baek Se-hee and her family in practicing the gift of life. The love Baek shared at the end of her life—after offering comfort and hope through her heartfelt writing—has become a miracle that gives life to others."
Create custom GPTs from your business information
Family's Heartfelt Remembrance
Baek's younger sister, Baek Da-hee, released a statement through the organ donation agency that captured the essence of who her older sister had been. She wrote: "My sister, whom I loved most, wanted to write, to connect with hearts through writing and to nurture dreams and hopes. Knowing her kind heart that loved so much and could not hate anyone, I hope she can now rest peacefully in heaven. I love you so much."
This deeply personal tribute revealed that Baek's influence extended far beyond her readers to her own family, who understood her values and her desire to make a difference in the world. Her family's decision to facilitate organ donation honored Baek's spirit and ensured that her final act would be one of giving and life-giving.
The Digital Outpouring of Grief
In the days following the announcement of her death, social media platforms filled with tributes from readers whose lives had been changed by her writing. One heartfelt comment captured the collective sentiment: "To the author who made me feel seen through her words, Baek Se Hee you were an absolute angel. I come back to this book slowly because you've caught those feelings right to the core and made me feel I belong. We love you and I wish you rest in paradise my beautiful savior."
These messages illuminated the true measure of Baek's impact—not in sales figures or critical acclaim, though she received both, but in the profound sense of connection and understanding she fostered among readers worldwide. For many people struggling with depression, anxiety, or feelings of emptiness, her words had provided validation that their experiences were real, legitimate, and shareable.
Understanding Her Place in Contemporary Literature
Baek Se-hee represents an important movement in contemporary South Korean literature—one where female authors use confessional and personal writing to explore the psychological landscape of modern life. She wrote without sensationalizing suffering, instead tracing its persistence and the complex emotions that accompany ongoing mental health challenges.
Her work arrived at a crucial moment when conversations about mental health were beginning to break through cultural barriers in South Korea and around the world. She helped normalize therapy, psychiatric treatment, and the open discussion of depression at a time when stigma still surrounded these topics in many cultures. Her willingness to share her therapeutic sessions—with appropriate privacy considerations—demystified the process of seeking professional help and demonstrated that doing so wasn't a sign of weakness but rather an act of self-care and courage.
Remembering Her Contributions
As the literary world processes the loss of this young but impactful author, her legacy remains clear: she changed conversations about mental health, she made countless readers feel less alone, and she demonstrated the profound power of vulnerability in writing. Her final act of organ donation—potentially saving five lives—represents a fitting conclusion to a life dedicated to giving hope and comfort to others.
Baek Se-hee's passing reminds us of how fragile life can be and how important it is to express gratitude to those who touch our lives through their words and actions. While her voice will no longer offer new books or public appearances, the words she already shared continue to resonate with readers navigating their own mental health journeys.
For those struggling with similar challenges, mental health resources remain available. Organizations worldwide provide support through crisis hotlines, therapy services, and peer support communities. Baek's legacy includes not just her written words but also the message that seeking help is an act of strength and that reaching out to others who are suffering is a profoundly human and valuable thing to do.
The author who once wrote about wanting to die but still wanting to eat tteokbokki has left behind a world that is forever changed by her courage, her honesty, and her unwavering belief that sharing our stories can help others feel less alone.
Post a Comment
0Comments