For South Koreans, tteokbokki is more than a snack. It's soul food.
This sweet and spicy dish made with chewy rice cakes is a staple of Korea's street food culture and beloved by people of all ages.
It's the food students turn to after long school days, and as adults, one you seek after a hard day at work.
So when readers came across a book titled I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki in 2018, many were immediately intrigued. Its honest yet playful title sparked curiosity, some wondering just how much you must love tteokbokki to write an entire book about it. Many were soon drawn to its raw honesty.
It became an instant bestseller that was widely discussed and resonated deeply in Korea. This week, Baek Se-hee, the book's South Korean author, died aged 35. The details surrounding her death remain unclear. The fact the Korean Organ Donation Agency said Baek had saved five lives by donating her organs, emphasised her wish to help others.
