Ministry of Health and Welfare holds 9th Life Sharing Week ceremony
The Ministry of Health and Welfare held the "9th Life Sharing Week Ceremony" on Monday.
Under the Act on Organ Transplants, the ministry designates the second week of September each year as Life Sharing Week to honor the spirit of sacrifice shown by donors and to promote a culture of organ donation.
According to the ministry, the cumulative number of organ transplant recipients stood at 98,052 last year and surpassed 100,000 — reaching 100,079 — as of April this year.
Last year, 55,002 patients were on transplant waiting lists and 4,172 donors were registered. The number of people who signed up to donate organs last year was 139,245, bringing the cumulative total to about 3.04 million.
At the ceremony held at L Tower in Seocho-gu, Seoul, 34 individuals and five institutions received commendations.
Kim Kyung-cheol, a family member of a donor, received a ministerial commendation for his contributions to raising awareness of organ donation. After his son fell into a brain-dead state at age 29, the family's decision to donate his organs and tissue saved seven lives and helped more than 100 others. Kim completed training as a life-sharing instructor in 2020 and has since given lectures and appeared on broadcasts to promote organ donation.
Actor Hwang Bo-ra was also named a meritorious contributor for consistently participating in the life-sharing movement since registering as an organ donation volunteer in 2012.
Institutional commendations went to the Yanggu-gun Public Health Center in Gangwon Province, the Ilsan Dong-gu Public Health Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, the Gunpo Public Health Center in Gyeonggi Province, Gangnam Severance Hospital, and Ewha University Medical Center Seoul Hospital.
Throughout Life Sharing Week, from Monday through Sunday, the ministry, local governments, and related organizations will run various public awareness campaigns to encourage participation in organ donation.
The National Institute of Organ, Tissue and Blood Management will hold a Life Sharing–K League 10th Anniversary Campaign at Incheon Football Stadium on Sunday. A nationwide "2026 Life Sharing Seeds of Hope Campaign" will also be carried out in partnership with the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, local governments, public institutions, and 130 medical organizations.
On Oct. 3, families of organ donors and workers at related institutions will be invited to Yongin Indoor Gymnasium for the "2026 Seeds of Hope Basketball with Stars" event.
thlee@heraldcorp.com
