The South of Seoul Volunteer January Book Club 2023 recommendation is I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir by Baek Sehee. Check out this deeply personal memoir of conversations between the author and her therapist.
About the South of Seoul Virtual Book Club
Looking for book recommendations? Welcome to the South of Seoul book club. We recommend a book every month. Such recommended books explore topics like 1) South Korean history or culture, 2) the complexity of cross-cultural life, or 4) the exploration of life within the diaspora experience.
Commitment to Accessibility
South of Seoul volunteers take book accessibility into consideration when recommending titles. We consider:
- Purchasable in English In Korea: Many translated titles can’t actually be purchased in English in Korea,
- Audio Version Available: Many people find audiobooks easier to consume.
- Online Versions.: International residents can’t afford to travel with many books and many books may not be available in digital form from within Korea.
Commitment to Diverse Lived Experiences
South of Seoul volunteers seek to put lived experiences at the forefront of their recommendation choices. When considering authors we look for such things as:
- Korean authors writing about their lived experiences in Korea.
- International residents writing about their lived experiences in South Korea.
- Ethnic Koreans writing about their lived experience in other countries.
Reading about Korean culture from a variety of perspectives may provide readers with a greater understanding of the country and culture.
Commitment to Supporting Mental Health
South of Seoul also includes book recommendations that support the lives and mental health of our community. This means that books may tackle the issues related to living between cultures. This may include topics such as culture shock, language, relationships, and more.
Book Recommendation by KimchiRednecks
December’s book club recommendation is brought to you by our content partner, Melissa Whittington from KimchiRednecks. I have experienced bouts of depression since I was in my teens and adding the struggles of Multiple Sclerosis on top of that means I am no stranger to this topic. Whether you have experienced mild depression or deep depression, this book is a great respite in that she is simply sharing her reflections and experiences which make you feel less alone in your own struggles.
About “I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir”
“I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir” by Baek Sehee is an open and honest look into the author’s experiences dealing with depression and seeking professional help. The author has transcribed her sessions with her therapist and intersperses some additional essays with humor and self-reflection as she works to resolve her harmful behaviors.

Although she has a successful career at a publishing house, Baek Sehee seeks out a therapist to help her delve into her issues. She isn’t quite sure how to categorize her feelings as just depression or hopelessness at first. Though she tries to connect with others, she often has trouble forming deep relationships and sometimes feels very judgmental of others.
“I wonder about others like me, who seem totally fine on the outside but are rotting on the inside, where the rot is this vague state of being not-fine and not-devastated at the same time.”
I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, Baek Sehee
I really enjoy how she explores her issues, questions and concerns and works to find ways to remove those harmful behaviors of self-abuse. The author is open about her struggles and frustrations which is refreshing since mental health issues often still feel very stigmatized.
If you have ever felt depressed or alone or frustrated with yourself, you may find more hope and understanding reading this memoir. Though I am not millennial or Korean, there are some universal struggles and frustrations that connected me to the author and her feelings.
This translation was just released in November of this year. I was intrigued by the title because the dark humor was relatable and it was a good read.

More Commentary and Reviews
For more on “I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir,” read the Japan Times review ‘I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki’: Compelling confessions of an exhausted millennial.
Online Purchasing Link
You can purchase “I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir” on Amazon.
Find More Book Club Recommendations
Did you like this recommendation? Be sure to explore our other volunteer-recommended books.
SOS Book Club Pick: The Surrendered
July’s Book Club Pick, “The Surrendered,” is a powerful, evocative tale of how love and war can profoundly transform people’s lives. This novel delves into the lives of three complex characters whose lives are intertwined by the turmoil of the Korean War and its aftermath. So, let’s dig into this novel. About The South Of…
SOS Book Club Pick: Tastes Like War
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SOS Book Club Pick: Nuclear Family
Welcome, book lovers and South of Seoul community! This month, our book club dives into “Nuclear Family” by Joseph Han. It’s a novel that explores the life of a Korean American family caught in the throes of personal and political turmoil. Han’s unique narrative style blends realism with a touch of the surreal, making “Nuclear…
SOS Book Club Pick: “Almond: A Novel”
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SOS Book Club Pick: Greek Lessons
March’s Book Club pick is “Greek Lessons.” The story follows a young woman and her professor of Ancient Greek, both of whom are alienated from the people around them due to limitations with their physical bodies. As the two become more connected, they share the pain and solace that they experience. About the South of…
SOS Book Club Pick: Can’t I Go Instead
Follow the lives of a mistress and servant during the Japanese occupation of Korea in “Can’t I Go Instead.” Lee Geum-yi explores the complex relationship between the women, examining the extent to which loyalty and deception can be used to survive. About the South of Seoul Book Club If you are familiar with the series,…
What Books Do You Recommend?
Feel free to share your own book recommendations on our Facebook page or in the blog post comments at the end of this post.

The KimchiRednecks channel was created in September 2018 by Chuck Whittington and Melissa Edwards-Whittington. They moved to Korea in July 2017 with their three Shih Tzu daughters, Sookie, Minion, and Mayhem.
The YouTube channel started as a way to share their lives here with their friends and families back in the states. They both have a deep love for Korean culture, people, and food and love being able to share that with others.
Chuck Whittington graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelors in Information Systems Management. He has worked in Information Technology roles for over 20 years. Chuck has always had an interest in Korea and has traveled here many times in the past.
Melissa Edwards-Whittington graduated from Mid-Atlantic Christian University with a Bachelors in Bible and a Minor in Elementary Education. She has worked in various roles in customer service and marketing over the years.
The YouTube channel has many interests just like they do because it is an extension of their lives here in Korea. You will often find videos on their channel about daily life in Korea, cooking, foodie adventures, traveling and exploring, computer and tech pursuits, gaming, and working on the Subaru BRZ.
Over the years, many of their friends have joined them for their videos and adventures because they enjoy sharing their lives with those around them. In addition, they add new interests from time to time, like making moonshine in Korea.
Life is about growing and changing, and the longer the KimchiRednecks live in Korea, the more they learn to love this country and culture and all it has to offer.