Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
7 in 10 Koreans willing to donate organs
Yonhap
By Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
Koreans have become more open to organ donatoin, with nearly seven out of 10 in favor, a government survey showed, Wednesday.
But translating that into actual donations may take some time as only 2.6 percent of the population has registered as organ donors.
In a survey conducted earlier this month by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) of 1,000 people over 19 years old, 97.5 percent were aware of organ donation and 66.5 percent showed a willingness to donate.
Of the people who were against it, 33 percent cited aversion to “damaging” their body, 30.4 percent were just afraid and 16.5 percent named a lack of information on other issues besides the donation process, such as how the body is treated after organs are harvested.
More than 60 percent said they learned of organ donation from TV while 35.3 percent cited online ads through blogs, communities and social media.
But despite the figures, the number of organ donors is low and far short of demand.
There are over 30,000 people waiting for donated organs in Korea, but only 9.95 people in every 1 million of the population donate. The figure is much lower than other advanced countries, with Spain's figure at 46.9, the U.S. at 31.9, Italy at 28.2 and England at 23.
“Koreans' perceptions of organ donation have taken positive steps in recent years, but only 2.6 percent of the population has promised to donate organs,” a KCDC official said. “We are in dire need of more donors.”
According to a separate report by the Seoul Institute, 4,400 Seoul citizens have donated their organs since 2010, an average of 490 a year.
People in their 20s and 30s made up 46.3 percent of donors, while males accounted for 57.5 percent.
Some 370,000 Seoul residents expressed a willingness to donate organs, and 150,000 of them marked the intention on their driver's license.
Since 2010, 6,865 Seoul residents have received organ transplants, an average of 763 a year. Most recipients were in their 50s ― 33.4 percent. Men also outnumbered women, taking up 63.3 percent of the total.
Among recipients, 48 percent received kidney transplants, followed by liver transplants at 28.3 percent and corneal transplants at 9 percent.
From January 2017 to October 2018, there were 1,862 Seoul citizens waiting for a donor. Of them, 1,300 were in need of a kidney transplant, with people in their 50s and 60s taking up 61.3 percent of those on the waiting list.
People who wish to become an organ donor can register at konos.go.kr or via fax, mail or by visiting a registration agency in their area.