Army sergeant helps children in need of blood

Army Sergeant First Class Yoon Jong-hyun, left, poses with Eulji University Hospital Director Hwang In-taek at the hospital in Daejeon, Thursday, holding an envelope containing 75 blood donor cards. Yoon donated the cards to the hospital to help children suffering from cancer get blood transfusions. / Yonhap

By Kwon Ji-youn

Army Sergeant First Class Yoon Jong-hyun delivered 75 blood donor cards to a hospital on Thursday to help children suffering from cancer.

Yoon, 35, who serves in the Army Consolidated Administrative School (ACAS) in North Chungcheong Province, began donating blood when he was a high school student. He has given blood at least every other month for the past 16 years.

“I began to donate when I heard there weren’t enough donors in Korea, so the country had to import blood,” Yoon said. “I’ll continue to donate blood to help those who need it.”

He received a blood donor card each time he gave blood. Donor card holders can get blood transfusion free of charge.

Yoon donated his cards to the Eulji University Hospital’s pediatrics’ ward in Daejeon, requesting they be used to help those children in need.

“I wanted to give a meaningful gift to the hospital as Children’s Day approaches,” he said. Yoon has two children.

The hospital said this is Yoon’s second such contribution. In 2007, he donated 30 blood donor cards to help a fellow soldier’s parents.

“We are very grateful to Sergeant Yoon, who is not only protecting our country, but also protecting our children,” said Hwang In-taek, a director of the hospital. “We will do our best to make sure his requests are fulfilled.”

Yoon has a plaque of appreciation from the Korea National Red Cross for donating blood for 106 times.