Retired Teacher in 70s' Final Gift... Cornea and Skin Donated to Over 100 People

Son: "Hoping My Father's Good Influence Will Spread the Culture of Donation"

A retired teacher in his 70s who spent 30 years in education passed away after donating his body tissues to 100 people.

According to Yonhap News Agency on the 11th, citing the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, Seo Gong-deok (79) donated his body tissues, including corneas, to over 100 people after his death on the 7th. Tissue donation involves donating skin, bones, ligaments and tendons, blood vessels, cartilage, heart valves, fascia, nerves, pericardium, and more after death. One donor can donate to more patients than organ donation, which can benefit up to eight recipients.

The late Seo Gong-deok, who donated his body tissues. Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency

Seo, who lived in Wansan-gu, Jeonju, was known for never passing by those in need without offering help. He was a devoted family man and retired after 30 years of public service, ending his career as a teacher at Jeonju Agricultural High School.

A devout Christian, he pledged to donate organs 20 years ago and often expressed to his family his wish to save others after passing away.

Seo’s wife, Choi Jeong-hee (75), said, “He was naturally kind and loved helping others, but when the time came to decide on donation, he hesitated. However, our son, who is a doctor, strongly advocated for it, and we decided to honor his wishes.”

Seo’s son, Seo Dong-ju (45), director of Iksan Mideum Hospital, said, “People over 80 are usually ineligible for tissue donation, but my father barely qualified. It seems he passed away early to fulfill his wish to donate. Thanks to him, we want to raise awareness that elderly people can donate tissues and that donation is possible within 12 hours after death. We hope his good influence will help spread the culture of organ and tissue donation.”

Meanwhile, organ transplantation in Korea has developed over the past 79 years, starting with the successful corneal transplant in 1945, the first living kidney transplant in 1969, and the first brain-dead kidney transplant in 1979.

However, despite advances in medical technology, the number of organ donors has stagnated. According to the National Organ, Tissue and Blood Management Agency in December last year, while the number of patients waiting for organ transplants has rapidly increased over the past five years, the number of donors has not kept pace.

Last year, the number of patients waiting for organ transplants was 51,876, a 4.2% increase from the previous year. Compared to 2019 (40,253), it increased by 29% over four years. As of July this year, 44,027 people nationwide are waiting for organ donations. Meanwhile, the number of donors remains in the 400s: 450 in 2019, 478 in 2020, 442 in 2021, 405 in 2022, and 483 in 2023.