Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Teen's organ donation helps save 5 lives
A 17-year-old, who had dreamed of becoming a nurse, saved the lives of five people by donating his organs before his death, according to the Korea Organ Donation Agency (KODA).
The organization said on Tuesday that Eom Tae-woong passed away at a hospital in Ulsan on Jan. 9 after donating his heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and tissues to approximately 100 people, including five who received his vital organs.
This photo shows organ donor Eom Tae-woong. Courtesy of Korea Organ Donation Agency
By Jung Min-ho
His family said the events unfolded suddenly and unexpectedly.
Eom lost consciousness on Jan. 5 due to unknown reasons, at a restaurant owned by his mother in the southeastern port city of Pohang. He was transported to Ulsan University Hospital, where, despite intensive care, his health rapidly deteriorated. Eventually, he was declared brain-dead.
His family told KODA that they chose to donate his organs because it had always been his dream to save lives by becoming a medical professional.
“When he saw the news about organ donors, Tae-woong said he also wanted to be part of that important work,” KODA quoted his mother as saying.
“I donated his organs because I believed it would have been his last wish, had he been able to make the decision.”
The second of five children, Eom had a bright personality, enjoyed spending time with friends, and loved sports, particularly basketball and football, according to his family.
To pursue his dream of becoming a nurse, Eom enrolled at Hyochung Health High School in Gyeongju, a private school specializing in health care-related programs. His family shared that he planned to go to Australia after graduation to further his studies and gain new experience in that field.
Lee Sam-youl, the director of KODA, expressed his gratitude for the compassion shown through Eom's organ donation.
“We would like to express our gratitude to the donor, Eom Tae-woong, and his grieving family,” Lee said. “We will continue to do our best to serve as the lifesaving bridge between donors and recipients.”