Could Not Hold His Second Grandchild... A Man in His 60s Saves Three Lives Before Passing Away

Kiwoong Kim Donates Organs After Brain Death at Korea University Guro Hospital

Mr. Kiwoong Kim (67), who donated his liver and both kidneys to three different recipients through brain-death organ donation. Korea Organ Tissue Donation Agency

A man in his 60s who had lived diligently for his family for nearly 30 years gave the gift of new life to three people at the very end of his own.

According to the Korea Organ Tissue Donation Agency on April 21, Kim Kiwoong (67) passed away on January 10 at Korea University Guro Hospital after donating his liver and both kidneys to three different recipients through brain-death organ donation.

On January 8, Kim lost consciousness and collapsed at work and was transported to the hospital, but his condition continued to deteriorate and he was declared brain dead. On the day Kim collapsed, his only daughter was staying at a postpartum care center after giving birth to her second child. She rushed to the hospital after receiving a call from her mother, but never saw her father regain consciousness.

Kim had even received vaccinations in advance so he could visit his second grandchild and was waiting for his daughter to finish her recovery, but regrettably, he passed away before meeting his grandchild, leaving the family heartbroken.

According to his family, Kim had submitted a request to forgo life-sustaining treatment together with his wife, as he did not want to burden his only daughter. His family decided on organ donation, believing that Kim—who had always enjoyed helping others—would have chosen to help others at the end of his life as well.

Kim worked diligently throughout his life and fulfilled his responsibilities as the family’s provider, and the family recalled how especially affectionate he was to his only daughter, Yoonji. He routinely brought home bread and fruit that his daughter and first grandchild enjoyed on his way back from work.

In her final farewell, his daughter Yoonji said, “Feeling the emptiness left by my father, I too want to live a good life like him. Let’s meet again someday, and greet each other with smiles, knowing we were happy in our own ways. Thank you, and I love you.”

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