"Giving New Hope and New Life to Someone" 140,000 People, Increasing Again

Repeated Fluctuations Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Korean Organ Donation Agency Ambassador, Broadcaster Kim Kyung-sik (left), and KBS Weather Caster Oh Su-jin (Heart Transplant Recipient)
[Photo by Organ Donation Agency]

Last year, the number of people in South Korea wishing to donate organs and tissues was approximately 140,000, marking a 20% increase compared to 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged.

The National Organ, Tissue and Blood Management Service under the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 23rd that the number of registered organ and tissue donation hopefuls last year reached 139,090 (83,362 for organs + 55,728 for tissues, excluding hematopoietic stem cells). This represents a 20.4% increase from 115,517 in 2020, when COVID-19 began to spread.

Previously, in 2021, the number of donation hopefuls was 158,940, nearly reaching 160,000. However, in 2022, it sharply dropped by 26% to 117,584 compared to the previous year, before recovering again last year. The National Organ, Tissue and Blood Management Service explained that the increase in donation hopefuls was due to the subsiding spread of COVID-19 last year and the use of TV public service advertisements in addition to face-to-face promotions. Nevertheless, they pointed out that "compared to advanced countries like the United States or Europe, South Korea still has a relatively low rate of organ donation."

According to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the domestic organ donation rate due to brain death in 2022 was 7.88%. This is significantly lower than rates in the United States (44.5%), Spain (46.03%), and the United Kingdom (21.08%). Individuals aged 16 and older who wish to donate human tissues and organs such as corneas and ligaments can register online through the National Organ, Tissue and Blood Management Service website.

Organ Donation [Image Source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, applicants can also visit organ transplant registration institutions such as public health centers or medical institutions in person to fill out application forms, or send completed forms by mail to the National Organ, Tissue and Blood Management Service. Since organ donation is not legally mandatory, it can be canceled at any time.

However, the National Organ, Tissue and Blood Management Service emphasized, "Even if a person has expressed a wish to donate organs, if the family opposes after the person's death, donation cannot proceed," and urged, "It is important to inform family members of this registration immediately so that organs can be smoothly delivered when needed."

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