Park Soon-ja (58), a women's hockey hero who won a gold medal at the 1986 Asian Games and a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, passed away after saving four lives.
The Korea Organ Donation Agency announced on the 30th that Park donated her heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys to four people through brain-dead organ donation at Kyung Hee University Hospital on the 30th of last month. Park had been receiving treatment for headaches since September, and on the evening of the 21st of last month, she collapsed at a swimming pool near her home and was transported to the hospital. However, she did not regain consciousness and entered a brain-dead state. During her lifetime, Park often expressed her wish to become a brain-dead organ donor after hearing on TV broadcasts about people dying because they could not receive organ transplants, and her family agreed to honor her wishes by consenting to the donation.
The late Park Soon-ja, who was active as a hockey player. Provided by the Korea Organ Donation Agency
Born as the youngest of five children (two sons and three daughters) in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Park was active and loved sports from a young age, and was a warm person who would approach and help those in difficult situations. Park was an athletics athlete in middle school before switching to hockey in high school, winning a gold medal at the 1986 Asian Games and a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
After retiring from the women's national hockey team, she worked while supporting neighbors in need every month and consistently engaged in volunteer activities. Until recently, she went hiking weekly and enjoyed swimming, marathon running, and cycling. This year, she actively participated in events, completing the Han River triathlon and the 10 km Seoul Peace Marathon. Park’s son, Kim Tae-ho, said, "Mom, thank you for all your hard work raising me. I vividly remember how happy you were when I got a job. You told me you loved me every day, and I’m sorry if I couldn’t say it back enough. I love you very much and thank you."
Lee Sam-yeol, director of the Korea Organ Donation Agency, said, "We express our gratitude to Park Soon-ja, a women's hockey national team player who brought great recognition to our country at the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and a heroic donor who saved four lives at the end of her life."
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