Teen who dreamed of being a cook donates organs to 7 patients after brain death
In short
Kang Min-su (강민수), 19, donated his heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, both kidneys and both eyes to seven patients after being declared brain-dead, the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency said on the 22nd. The donation took place at Myongji Hospital on the 30th of last month. His parents decided on the donation, recalling their son as someone who could not walk past people in need.
Read the full story 2 min read
A 19-year-old who dreamed of becoming a cook donated organs to seven patients after being declared brain-dead, the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency said on the 22nd. According to the agency, Kang Min-su (강민수) donated his heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, both kidneys and both eyes to seven patients in total after brain death was determined at Myongji Hospital on the 30th of last month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
His parents decided on the donation, recalling their son as someone who could not pass by people in difficulty. They thought he would share the wish if the donation could help someone. His father, Kang Seong-won (강성원), said that thinking of Min-su's heart beating well in someone's body gave him great comfort. [ 1 , 2 ]
Kang was born in Busan, the second of one son and one daughter. He attended a cooking high school and a cooking academy, and he sometimes made food and bread for his family. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yonhap and Newsis reported that he had wanted since childhood to become a cook and open a restaurant. They said his father remembered the ramen his son boiled most and could still not forget its taste. [ 1 , 2 ]
In his farewell message, the father said he missed the sight and voice of his son approaching and calling him dad, that he missed him very much and that he loved him. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Newsis reported that Kang fell into brain death after an unexpected accident and did not regain consciousness. It added that the father used to listen to his son's heartbeat with his ear against his chest. After high school Kang worked in restaurants to gain experience and save money. Newsis said he liked travel and eating out, got along with people, listened to friends' problems and, as a child, thought about how to help injured animals. It said he never quarreled with his sister, who is four years older, and that in summer he and his father swam together at a Busan beach, where the father taught him to swim. Newsis quoted the father as telling his son that he would always be there and would keep watch so that his son would not lose his way. To the organ recipients he said he hoped they would see and enjoy the world Min-su had wanted to see, and live happily and in good health. Lee Sam-yeol (이삼열), head of the agency, was quoted by Newsis as saying that Kang saved seven lives while nurturing his dream of becoming a cook and caring for those around him, and that he hoped the family's decision, made in their grief, would be remembered by many people. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The documents give no wider policy significance. They present it as an individual case of brain-death organ donation, with the donation agency and the family speaking about the decision.
Key facts
- Kang Min-su, 19, donated organs after being declared brain-dead at Myongji Hospital on the 30th of last month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He donated his heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, both kidneys and both eyes to a total of seven patients. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency released the information on the 22nd. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- His parents chose donation, recalling that he could not pass by people in difficulty and thinking he would share the wish to help someone. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He was born in Busan, the second of one son and one daughter, and had dreamed since childhood of becoming a cook. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kang Min-su, 19, donated his heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, both kidneys and both eyes to seven patients after brain death at Myongji Hospital on the 30th of last month, according to the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- His father, Kang Seong-won (강성원), said that thinking of Min-su's heart beating well in someone's body gave him great comfort. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kang was born in Busan, attended a cooking high school and a cooking academy, and sometimes made food and bread for his family. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What accident led to Kang's brain death Only Newsis says he became brain-dead after an unexpected accident; no document describes the accident or when it happened.