Stars who share life: Kim Na-young, Choi Kang-hee and Kim Ji-soo’s stem cell donations inspire hope

Kim Na-young, left, and Choi Kang-hee / Xportsnews

Celebrities who have donated hematopoietic stem cells are drawing praise for their life-saving contributions and inspiring positive social change.

TV personality Kim Na-young recently revealed that she donated hematopoietic stem cells, sharing her three-day donation journey on her YouTube channel No Filter TV.

“I wanted more people to see this and realize that there’s such a thing as sharing happiness and luck,” Kim said, explaining why she decided to go public with her story.

Kim is not the only celebrity who has joined this life-saving cause.

Kim Na-young, above, and Choi Kang-hee / Captured from Kim's social media, MBC

Actress Choi Kang-hee previously appeared on MBC’s “The Manager” in November 2024, where she discussed becoming the first Korean celebrity to donate hematopoietic stem cells. Choi had registered as a donor in 1999 and successfully donated stem cells in October 2007 while filming the movie “My Love.” Her donation helped one of two brothers battling leukemia receive a lifesaving transplant. Choi also donated blood 46 times as of last year, showing her continuous commitment to saving lives.

Actress Kim Ji-soo also donated bone marrow in 2011 after being matched with a patient in need, six years after registering as an organ, cornea and bone marrow donor in 2005. In 2022, Kim shared that the high school student who received her bone marrow had fully recovered and was preparing for marriage, touching many hearts.

Kim Ji-soo / Captured from Kim's social media

Despite the profound impact of hematopoietic stem cell donations, many people remain hesitant due to fears and misconceptions about the process. However, the openness of celebrities like Kim Na-young, Choi Kang-hee and Kim Ji-soo — who not only donate but also share their experiences publicly — is helping to raise awareness and encourage others to register as potential donors.

Online commenters praised their actions. “They have such beautiful hearts,” “What an admirable thing to do” and “They deserve endless blessings," some wrote.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.