Baek Sehee, whose therapy memoir resonated around the world, dies at 35

"Baek Sehee, a South Korean author who explored her struggles with depression and therapy in the popular memoir "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki," died Oct. 16 at a hospital in Goyang, just outside Seoul. She was 35. Her death was announced by the Korea Organ Donation Agency, which did not cite a cause. The agency said Ms. Baek saved five people by donating her heart, lungs, liver and kidneys."

"Ms. Baek had been diagnosed with dysthymia, a mild but long-lasting form of depression, and received psychiatric treatment for a decade, according to her publisher. She documented her journey in essays and books including "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki," which chronicled her conversations with a psychiatrist over a 12-week period; her battles with self-doubt and anxiety; and her persistent desire for tteokbokki, a Korean comfort food of rice cakes in a sweet and spicy sauce."

Baek Sehee died Oct. 16 at a hospital in Goyang at age 35. She had been diagnosed with dysthymia, a mild but long-lasting form of depression, and received psychiatric treatment for a decade. She publicly shared candid accounts of therapy sessions, ongoing self-doubt and anxiety, and a recurring craving for tteokbokki, which resonated with many readers in Asia and Britain. Critics praised her dark humor and intimate style for making therapy relatable and comforting. The Korea Organ Donation Agency said her donated heart, lungs, liver and kidneys saved five people; no cause of death was cited.

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