Thai Beautician Always Bright, Gives New Life to 5 People in Korea During Trip Before Passing Away

Lost Consciousness and Collapsed While Traveling in Korea with a Friend
"Saving Others Is the Greatest Good Deed"

A man in his 30s from Thailand, who lost consciousness and collapsed while traveling in Korea, gifted a new life to five Koreans and passed away peacefully.

A 35-year-old Thai visitor to Korea, Purima Leongtongkumkul, saved five lives by donating her heart, lungs, liver, and left and right kidneys after brain death organ donation.
[Image source=Korea Organ Donation Agency]

On the 10th, the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency announced that on the 5th at Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Purima Leongtongkumkul (35) saved five people by donating his heart, lungs, liver, and left and right kidneys after being declared brain dead.

Leongtongkumkul, who lived in Bangkok, Thailand, lost consciousness and collapsed on the 27th of last month while traveling in Korea with a friend. Despite the medical staff's active treatment, he ultimately fell into a brain-dead state. His family, who rushed to Korea, decided to donate, saying, "Although (Leongtongkumkul) is leaving as brain dead, he wants to perform a miracle before departing." They added, "In Thailand, it is believed that when a person dies, they are reincarnated and live a new life," and "We think that saving other lives at the moment of departure is the greatest good deed the deceased can perform."

Purima Leongtongkumkul (35), a Thai visitor to Korea, saved five people by donating her heart, lungs, liver, and left and right kidneys after being declared brain dead.
[Image source=Korea Organ Donation Agency]

Born as the second child among one son and three daughters in Bangkok, Leongtongkumkul was always cheerful and brought happiness to others. He was a positive person who gave strength by hugging those around him who were tired and struggling. He enjoyed spending time with cats and family, worked as a hair designer in Bangkok, and dreamed of becoming a world-renowned designer.

Leongtongkumkul’s mother said, "You were always the best in our lives. Now it’s time to rest comfortably, so don’t worry about anything else and rest peacefully in the sky," and gave her final farewell, "We will always think of you and love you deeply in our hearts."

According to statistics from the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, including Leongtongkumkul, there have been four foreign nationals who donated organs after brain death this year, accounting for about 1.8% of domestic brain-dead organ donations. Previously, foreign organ donors numbered seven in 2019, eight in 2020, and seven each year from 2021 to 2023. A representative from the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency explained, "Usually, foreign nationals residing in Korea for work purposes decide to donate," adding, "It is rare for someone who came to Korea for travel purposes to practice life-sharing."

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