A twenty-one-year-old South Korean university student, Kim Kyu-min, has posthumously saved the lives of five people through organ donation. The Korean Organ Donation Agency confirmed on Wednesday that Kim, an aspiring computer programmer, had his heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys donated to five patients after he was declared brain-dead following a drowning accident.
Kim, who was the elder of two children, was swimming at a beach in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, on September 14, when he drowned. He was taken to Pohang SM Christianity Hospital but remained unconscious and was later declared brain-dead.
His family, in a final act of generosity, chose to donate his organs. They hoped that the donations would allow a part of Kim to “remain in this world and live together” through others.
A Life of Promise
Kim was born in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, and was a student in the computer engineering department at a university in Pohang. Inspired by his father’s work in data analysis, Kim had a clear professional goal. His friends and classmates recalled him as a hardworking student dedicated to his dream of becoming a computer programmer.
He was also described as a young man with a wide range of hobbies, from climbing to playing the guitar and piano. He was especially passionate about soccer. His family remembered him as a quiet yet affectionate son and a thoughtful older brother to his four-years-younger sister.
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In a statement, Kim’s father paid tribute to his son’s short but meaningful life. “Dearest Kyu-min, you filled our lives with so much joy. I hope you can achieve every dream in heaven. Until the day we meet again, we will always keep you close in our hearts,” he said.
The donation has brought public attention to Kim’s final act, as well as the work of the Korea Organ Donation Agency, which seeks to raise awareness about the life-saving impact of organ donation.
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