The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea announced Thursday it will set up a network aimed at increasing organ donations, a movement that earned increased recognition here after the death of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan earlier this year.

During the four-day conference held from Monday, 22 bishops led by Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk agreed to create the network under its bioethics committee some time later this year.

The number of pledged organ donors increased by nearly six-fold shortly after Cardinal Kim's death on Feb. 16, with more than 100 people signing up daily, according to the Korean Organ Donor Program data.

The late cardinal ― respected by Catholics and non-Catholics alike for his courageous criticism of a succession of South Korean dictators and his tireless support for democracy ― had deeply inspired the public by donating his eyes to two patients. He had pledged to donate his organs as early as 1990, desiring to "give everything and leave with nothing."

Less than one out of 10 South Koreans donate their organs while more than 18,000 patients are waiting for transplants. In Spain, 34 percent of citizens are registered as voluntary organ donors, followed by 22 percent in the U.S. and 20 percent in France.

jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr