I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee

I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki is a candid and introspective memoir by South Korean author Baek Se‑hee. In this sequel to her internationally acclaimed I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, Baek continues to explore her personal journey through persistent depression (dysthymia) and mental health treatment. The book combines raw, honest reflections with recorded conversations from ongoing therapy sessions, offering readers profound insight into the complex experience of coping with chronic low mood, anxiety, self‑doubt, and the challenging process of healing. The narrative balances vulnerability with moments of humanity, using the symbolic contrast of wanting to die versus craving simple pleasures (like tteokbokki — spicy Korean rice cakes) to illuminate perseverance and hope.