From now on, you will be guided to express your preference for 'this' when issuing an ID card

"To Promote the Culture of Donation"
Organ Transplantation Act Amendment to Take Effect Starting This August

Starting from August, when receiving identification cards such as resident registration cards, individuals will receive guidance on registering as organ donation hopefuls from the staff in charge. The same applies to reissuance or renewal of identification cards.

Image unrelated to the article content. Pixabay

According to the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency on the 14th, from August 21, in accordance with the amendment to the Act on Organ Transplantation, when receiving identification documents such as resident registration cards, passports, driver's licenses, or seafarer identification cards, individuals will receive explanations about organ donation registration from the officials responsible for donation or identification document issuance in each local government.

According to the National Organ, Tissue and Blood Management Service under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of December last year, the total number of hopefuls for organ donation or donation of human tissues such as bones, cartilage, and skin was 117,206, which is a 16% decrease compared to one year earlier (139,090).

The number of brain-dead organ donors has also decreased. Last year, the total number of brain-dead organ donors in Korea was 397, a 30.7% decrease compared to the highest number in 2016 (573). It is the first time in 13 years since 2011 (368) that the annual number of brain-dead organ donors fell below 400.

Accordingly, the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency recently held a meeting for officials in charge of organ and tissue donation to promote the culture of donation. The meeting aimed to educate the officials to ensure the smooth establishment of the donation and donation registration guidance system, with a total of 140 officials participating.

Lee Sam-yeol, Director of the Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, said, "I hope that through this education, the awareness that sharing life in the community is a 'virtuous cycle of life' will spread," and pledged, "We will continue to make greater efforts to expand the culture of donation and strengthen the respect for donors." Detailed methods for registering as an organ donation hopeful can be found on the National Organ, Tissue and Blood Management Service website.