A 22-Year-Old Cheong Youth Overcoming Down Syndrome Gives New Life to 3 People and Ascends to Heaven

"I have received benefits from the country for 20 years"
"I thought we should return our gratitude"

A young man in his 20s who overcame Down syndrome gifted new lives to three people before passing away.

The Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency announced on the 18th that Kim Junhyuk (22) donated his liver and both kidneys through brain death organ donation at Seoul Asan Medical Center on the 18th of last month.

Donor Junhyuk Kim (right) and his mother Mikyung Kim (left). Provided by Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency

Kim experienced respiratory distress at his home on the 13th of last month and was transported to the emergency room but eventually fell into a brain-dead state. It is known that Kim's family first expressed their intention to donate organs to the medical staff. His mother, Kim Mikyung, explained the reason for the donation, saying, "Junhyuk has received benefits from the country as a person with a disability for 20 years, so I naturally thought we should return our gratitude."

Kim was born as the youngest of two children in Seoul. Until he was six years old, he was able to walk, but afterward, due to an unexplained cerebral hemorrhage, he had difficulty controlling his body and kept falling, resulting in frequent injuries. Eventually, from the age of seven, he had to use a wheelchair to move around. He had a lively personality and enjoyed playing pranks. Although his visual and auditory functions were impaired and his eyesight was poor, he enjoyed drawing.

Kim Mikyung said, "Junhyuk, I bought you a white hanbok and dressed you in it; you looked so beautiful. It seemed like you were smiling. I will come to see you soon, so please don’t be in pain and have fun in heaven. I will always think of you. I love you very much. I miss you," delivering her final farewell.

Lee Samyeol, director of the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, said, "We thank donor Kim Junhyuk, who saved three lives through the sharing of life, and the bereaved family who made this difficult decision. The agency will continue to strive to save even one more life."