Brain-Dead Korea University Student Who Donated Organs to Save 6 Lives Awarded 'Honorary Bachelor's Degree'

Korea University Holds Honorary Degree Ceremony for the Late Student Lee Ju-yong

Student the late Lee Ju-yong who donated organs to six people before passing away
[Image source=Yonhap News]

An honorary bachelor's degree was awarded to the late Lee Ju-yong, a Korea University student who gave new life to six people while in a brain-dead state.

On the morning of the 30th, Korea University (President Kim Dong-won) held the 'Honorary Degree Conferment Ceremony for the Late Student Lee Ju-yong' in the second conference room of the main building. Lee Ju-yong, a senior at Korea University, collapsed in June this year while entering his room after having a meal with his family at home. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment but ultimately did not regain consciousness and fell into a brain-dead state.

After hearing the medical staff's diagnosis that Lee Ju-yong could not wake up again, his family decided to donate his organs, hoping that some part of his body would continue to live somewhere. Accordingly, the student's heart, lungs, liver, kidneys (both left and right), pancreas, and eyes (both left and right) were donated, giving six people new life.

Lee Ju-yong, a sincere and healthy young man, had devoted himself to his studies with great effort and passion to fulfill his dream of becoming an engineer. He was talented in many areas, enjoyed reading books, and liked exercising such as jogging and cycling. He also had a deep appreciation for music, having been active in the Korea University Gwanak Choir and the Guri City Municipal Youth Symphony Orchestra.

To honor the noble spirit of sharing demonstrated by the late Lee Ju-yong, Korea University held a full faculty meeting of the Department of Mechanical Engineering last July and resolved to award him an honorary bachelor's degree. The degree conferment ceremony held that day was attended by the student's family and acquaintances, as well as Korea University President Kim Dong-won, Vice President for Academic Affairs Lee Won-kyu, Dean of Academic Affairs Lee Myung-jin, Dean of the College of Engineering Lee Hae-geun, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering Kim Jong-ok, Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Han Chang-su, President of the College of Engineering Alumni Association Tae Beom-seok, and Director of Donation Management at the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency Lee Jeong-rim.

President Kim said, "His noble spirit of sharing life is something our entire society must remember and cherish for a long time," and added, "I hope that the honorary bachelor's degree awarded today by our university will bring some comfort to the deceased's parents and bereaved family." Moon In-seong, Director of the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, said, "I hope social interest in life-sharing will increase so that donors who save lives can be regarded as heroes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.