30s Dad Who Left After Saving 4 Lives... "I Am Breathing Within Others"

Kim Min-gyu, Who Fell Into Brain Death, Saves 4 Lives Through Organ Donation
Donated Hoping to Be Remembered as a 'Proud Father'
A Person Who Always Helped and Gave to Those in Need

A story has touched many hearts about a man in his 30s who suddenly fell into a brain death state after being diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage, saved four lives through organ donation, and passed away.

According to the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency on the 19th, Kim Min-gyu (38) visited a hospital last month due to severe headaches and was diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage. Although Kim received treatment, his condition gradually worsened and he fell into a brain death state.

A man in his 30s, who was diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage and suddenly entered a brain death state, saved the lives of four people through organ donation before passing away.
[Photo by Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency]

The family, heartbroken over how to tell their 8-year-old daughter that 'she would not be able to see her father again,' decided to donate organs hoping their daughter would remember her father as a 'wonderful and proud person who saved the sick and went to heaven.'

Kim, who had a bright and lively personality, was a caring father who played well with his daughter and was known by his family as someone who could not pass by those in need without helping and giving.

Kim’s wife, Jung Min-jung, said she hopes her departed husband "will not be in pain and will always smile in heaven," and that she will tell their daughter Jia that her father’s heart is alive and beating in someone else’s body, so he is always with Jia.

Moon In-sung, director of the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, stated, "The sorrow of having to leave behind beloved family and a young daughter is hard to imagine, but we deeply appreciate the precious gift of life shared by the donor and the donor’s family."

Meanwhile, there are still many people waiting for organ transplants, but donors remain insufficient.

According to the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, last year there were about 46,000 people nationwide waiting for organ transplants. In contrast, the number of donors was only 422. Among these, Chonnam National University Hospital was found to have the highest number of brain-dead organ donations last year.

A total of 13 patients who were declared brain dead at Chonnam National University Hospital donated organs, the highest number among 99 medical institutions capable of conducting brain death diagnosis and organ donation.