Baek Sehee Death Highlights A Grim Problem In South Korea: 40 People Die By Suicide Every Day

Baek’s death has renewed demands for stronger mental health support, better funding, and open discussion to combat the nation’s growing suicide crisis. (Credit: @_baeksehee/Instagram)

The death of celebrated South Korean author Baek Se-hee at the age of 35 has reignited a national conversation about mental health.

Baek, whose bestselling memoir I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki chronicled her long struggle with depression and therapy, became a leading voice in a society where mental illness is often kept private. Her work gave younger generations a language to express emotional pain in a culture that prizes restraint.