Gangdong-gu Supports Blood Donors with Onnuri Gift Certificates

When Residents of Gangdong-gu Donate Blood (Whole Blood) at Blood Management Centers... 10,000 Won Gift Certificate Given per Donation... Expected to Stabilize Blood Supply Severely Reduced Due to COVID-19 Impact

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gangdong-gu (District Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) announced that, following last year, it has signed a ‘Blood Donation Support Business Agreement’ with the Seoul Southern Blood Center of the Korean Red Cross in 2021 to support residents who donate blood and to promote blood supply and donation culture.

Blood donation is the only way to save the lives of patients who need transfusions, as blood cannot be artificially manufactured or replaced by any substitute.

Also, donated blood cannot be stored for a long time, so continuous and steady blood donations are necessary to maintain an adequate blood supply of five days. However, due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, external activities have been reduced and blood donation cancellations have increased, causing difficulties in securing blood supplies for medical institutions.

Since May 20, Gangdong-gu has been providing a 10,000 KRW Onnuri gift certificate once per donation, up to three times per person annually, to those who donate whole blood at the Cheonho Center and Gangdong Center, blood donation houses under the Seoul Southern Blood Center, a blood management institution in Gangdong-gu. However, the support is limited to residents registered in Gangdong-gu who donate whole blood containing all blood components (red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, platelets), excluding component blood donations.

Previously, in 2019, the district revised the ‘Blood Donation Encouragement Ordinance’ to allow the provision of 10,000 KRW Onnuri gift certificates up to three times a year per resident who donates blood within the district, the first such ordinance in Seoul. Following last year, this year the district will again support 2,000 Onnuri gift certificates worth 10,000 KRW each within the budget.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, “With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic causing an emergency in blood supply, we hope that the support of Onnuri gift certificates will encourage participation in blood donation that saves precious lives and also stimulate consumption in the local economy.” He added, “The district will continue to do its best to stabilize blood supply and promote a culture of blood donation.”