'Ayoung, unconscious after 5 days from birth due to abuse, donates organs to 4 people before passing away'

2019 Busan 'Ayoung Incident' Abuse Victim
Family "Let's Meet Again in the Next Life and Build Long-lasting Memories"
Perpetrator Nurse Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison by Supreme Court Last Month

A child who became unconscious after suffering a head injury just five days after birth donated organs to give new life to four people before passing away.

Jung Ah-young, who remained unconscious since infancy, passed away after donating organs to four peers.
[Photo by Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency]

According to the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency on the 29th, Jeong Ah-young (5), who had been in an unconscious state since October 2019, was declared dead the day before at Busan Yangsan University Hospital.

Before going to heaven, Ah-young donated her heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, saving the lives of four patients of the same age.

Ah-young’s family said, "We want to give meaning to the child's life in this world," and added, "We decided to donate with the hope that Ah-young will live and breathe somewhere else in another body and with the desire to save others."

In a final letter to Ah-young, they said, "You must have been in a lot of pain and hardship, but thank you for enduring with all your strength in that tiny body until now," and "Please be born once more as our daughter to mom and dad in your next life. Then, let’s make memories for a long time until you become our Hoho grandmother."

Ah-young’s father also added, "We sincerely thank everyone who supported Ah-young during this time."

Moon In-seong, director of the Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, said, "The pain of a family who experienced an accident with a newborn child must be immense, but we are grateful for the donation made to save someone else’s life despite the pain," and added, "It is even more meaningful as it saved the lives of children of the same age."

Abuse Victim in the 2019 Busan 'Ah-young Case'

Jung Ah-young, who remained unconscious since infancy, passed away after donating organs to four peers.
[Photo by Korea Organ & Tissue Donation Agency]

Ah-young was born in October 2019 at an obstetrics clinic in Dongnae-gu, Busan, and suffered a head injury after falling to the floor just five days after birth. This incident caused her to fall into an unconscious state.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Nurse A, who worked at the clinic, caused Ah-young’s fall.

Additionally, Nurse A was found to have abused 14 newborns in the nursery from October 5 to October 20, 2019, including holding newborns by one leg and lifting them upside down.

This case became known as the "Ah-young Case," named after the victim child.

In court, Nurse A claimed, "I was under a lot of stress due to working three consecutive night shifts while pregnant," and argued, "(Ah-young’s injury) might be a congenital issue or caused by another nursing assistant."

However, Nurse A’s claims were not accepted during the trial.

Last month, Nurse A was sentenced to six years in prison by the Supreme Court and was ordered to be banned from employment in related institutions for seven years.

The court explained the sentencing by stating, "This crime cannot be justified by the defendant’s difficult and exhausting circumstances," and "Nurse A committed inhumane abuse by holding and shaking newborns who could not even support their necks upside down. It is hard to even imagine the pain of parents who could only watch their child in a critical condition."