Donation Lady Passes Away at 85
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Kim Chun-hee, more commonly known as the "donation lady," passed away Thursday morning of acute myocardial infarction. She was 85.
Kim, who suffered from chronic asthma, was moved to Guro Sungsim Hospital in southern Seoul last month but developed various complications, her doctors said.
The Korean Organ Donor Program said Kim, who had donated all of her assets while relying on governmental subsidies and living alone in a ragged rooftop house, had signed up to donate her body after death for medical research.
This isn't her first good deed. Kim came to South Korea from the North in 1945, leaving the rest of her family members behind.
She barely made ends meet by diligently working at various jobs and as a cleaning lady at restaurants.
Still, she had sponsored an orphanage in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province, for more than a decade.
Following her retirement, she saved governmental subsidies given to those without any income and donated 2.5 million won in 2006 and 5 million won in 2007 to the Community Chest of Korea, a non-profit organization.
She was also the first person who signed a will to donate her possible inheritance to the charity group.
So far, 13 people have followed in her footsteps since 2005, with 11 of those, like Kim, being non-earners depending on governmental support.
"There were times when she visited us with donations. We couldn't take the money. We knew she had to endure a cold bed and struggle with hunger," said Park Young-hee, spokeswoman of the Community Chest.
Park said Kim's inheritance is estimated to be around 15 million won, which was her deposit for the rooftop house. Park said it will be used to support disabled children, upon Kim's wish.
Kim's funeral will be held Saturday, where her body will be donated to Korea University's School of Medicine.