Table of Contents
- A Voice for the Silent
- The Book That Broke Taboos
- Global Impact, Local Courage
- Legacy of Honesty and Hope
- Sources
Baek Sehee: A Voice for the Silent
South Korean author Baek Sehee, whose raw and unflinching memoir about depression gave voice to millions struggling in silence, has died at age 35. Her death was confirmed by the Korea Organ Donation Agency, though her family has chosen not to disclose the cause.
Baek’s legacy lies not in grand pronouncements, but in the quiet courage of her honesty. In a society where mental illness is often shrouded in shame, she dared to say aloud what so many felt but couldn’t express: “I want to die—but I still want to eat tteokbokki.”
The Book That Broke Taboos
Published in 2018, “I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki” became an instant sensation in South Korea. The title—referencing the beloved spicy rice cake dish—captured the paradox of depression: the simultaneous pull toward despair and the faint, persistent desire for comfort, connection, and life.
What made the book revolutionary was its format. Baek transcribed actual sessions with her therapist, weaving them with personal essays on self-worth, gender expectations, and the crushing weight of societal pressure. It wasn’t a self-help manual; it was a mirror.
Why the Book Resonated
- Authenticity: Readers saw their own thoughts reflected without judgment.
- Stigma-breaking: In a culture where therapy is often hidden, Baek made it visible.
- Cultural relevance: She addressed uniquely Korean pressures—academic stress, workplace hierarchy, familial duty.
- Accessibility: Written in plain, conversational language, not clinical jargon.
The book sold over one million copies worldwide and was translated into 25 languages. Its success sparked a national conversation about mental health rarely seen in South Korea.
Global Impact, Local Courage
Though her reach was international, Baek’s mission was deeply local. She wrote not for fame, but because a stranger once commented on her blog: “It’s like a light shining into the darkness of my life.” That moment convinced her that honesty could be healing—not just for herself, but for others.
Her 2019 sequel, “I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki,” delved deeper into her battles with self-harm and suicidal ideation. Even then, she remained humble about her influence. “It makes me glad that we are at least talking about it more,” she said in a 2023 interview.
Anton Hur, who translated her work into English, wrote after her death: “She touched millions of lives with nothing but truth and vulnerability.”
Legacy of Honesty and Hope
Baek Sehee’s greatest contribution may be the permission she gave others to be imperfect, to seek help, and to speak openly about inner pain. In a country with one of the highest suicide rates among developed nations, her work offered not solutions, but solidarity.
Her sister, Baek Dahee, said in a statement: “She loved writing, connecting with others through writing, and nurturing hope in other people.”
That hope lives on—in book clubs, therapy waiting rooms, and late-night social media posts where readers still quote her words like lifelines.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Additional resources are available at SpeakingOfSuicide.com.
Sources
The New York Times: “Baek Sehee, Korean Writer Who Bared Her Struggles With Depression, Dies at 35”
