Uijeongbu Region's Highest Blood Donation Record Holder... Donates Blood Once a Month
Jang Dae-cheol, Officer: "I Will Continue Donating Blood Aiming for 700 Times"
A public official at Uijeongbu City Hall in Gyeonggi Province has touched the local community with a warm story of donating blood 400 times over 27 years.
The protagonist of this story is Jang Dae-cheol (49), an administrative officer in the Sports Facilities Management Team (Sports Division). Jang began donating blood during his military service while on leave to help an acquaintance, and since then has practiced "sharing life" through 400 blood donations.
According to Uijeongbu City on the 13th, Jang holds the record for the most blood donations in the Uijeongbu area certified by the Korean Red Cross. After receiving the Korean Red Cross Blood Donation Merit Award’s highest honor (300 donations) in March 2020, he was inducted into the Korean Red Cross’s “Blood Donation Hall of Fame” on the 8th for reaching 400 donations.
Entry into the Blood Donation Hall of Fame is the highest honor given only to those who have donated blood more than 100 times.
The total amount of blood Jang has donated so far is 199,000cc (199 liters). Considering that the average blood volume of an adult male is 4 to 5 liters, this amount is equivalent to the combined blood volume of 45 adults.
For Jang, the blood donation king among public officials, donating blood is a daily routine. Since his first donation 27 years ago, except for periods of poor health, he has visited blood donation centers at least once a month.
Although Jang has donated blood 400 times, he currently holds only 80 blood donation certificates. This is because he has given away all the certificates to neighbors and colleagues in need, including donating 101 certificates to Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital in 2022. He plans to donate the remaining 80 certificates as well, so that the flower of life can bloom again.
Jang’s sharing extends beyond blood donation. He is also actively involved as a Red Cross volunteer with the Korean Red Cross Uijeongbu District Council.
Through regular donations to the Red Cross, he has contributed a total of 6.25 million KRW over more than 10 years. Additionally, instead of accepting commemorative gifts after blood donations, he chooses donation vouchers and donates them all to places in need. Since 2013, the accumulated donation amount has been 822,000 KRW.
Born in 1976 and now 49 years old, Jang plans to continue donating blood as long as his health permits. This is one of the reasons he diligently manages his health through regular exercise such as hiking.
Jang Dae-cheol said, "Blood donation is the most noble and valuable service to practice sharing life," and smiled brightly, adding, "My goal is 700 donations, and I plan to continue donating blood until the retirement age for donors, 69, as long as my health allows."
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