Korean author Baek Se-hee donates organs before passing away at 35, saves 5 people's lives

The organs were retrieved at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital in Gyeonggi Province—the same hospital where she was born.

Baek Se-hee, the 35-year-old South Korean author of the bestselling book I Want to Die, but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, has passed away after donating her organs to save five lives.

As reported by The Chosun Daily, Baek donated her heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys through a brain-dead organ donation procedure before her death.

The organs were retrieved at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital in Gyeonggi Province—the same hospital where she was born. She was declared brain-dead on October 16, according to the agency.

Baek rose to fame in 2018 with her deeply personal essay collection I Want to Die, but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, which chronicled her therapy sessions after being diagnosed with depression.

The book struck a powerful chord with readers for its honesty and vulnerability and was named “Book of the Year” by several platforms, including Yes24 and Aladin. It sold around 600,000 copies in South Korea and was translated into about 25 languages.

Also read: Baek Se-hee, Author of ‘I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki’ dies at 35

According to her biography on Bloomsbury Publishing, Baek lived with her rescue dog, Jaram, and had battled dysthymia—a chronic, mild form of depression—for nearly a decade. Her idea for the memoir was born after she began sharing excerpts from her therapy sessions on a blog, which received immense support and empathy from readers.

The title of her memoir referenced her favourite comfort food, tteokbokki—a spicy Korean rice cake dish that became a symbol of small joys amidst pain. Over time, the book went on to sell more than a million copies worldwide, cementing Baek’s legacy as a voice for mental health awareness and emotional healing.