Positive understanding about organ donation is spreading in Korean society lately. This social phenomenon was partly affected by a section, “Open the Eyes,” of the MBC TV program “Exclamation Mark,” televised on Saturday night. This program offered eyesight-disabled people cornea transplants and made more people interested in organ donation. Last September, Beobjang, a monk, donated his body after he died. Because of that, Buddhists’ donation rate is getting higher. A public advertisement (KOBACO) shows the people who got organ transplants and a chance to live new lives. Kim Sang-jin, an ordinary office worker who donated his organ, gave new life to five people. Also last October, a cornea was transplanted from the first domestic organ donor. These warm-hearted stories have been broadcast and people are changing their thinking about organ donation and showing high interest.

However, organ transplants aren’t done widely in Korea. In other words, the actual rate of donation is still low. Why is this so? Compared with other developed countries, Korea hasn’t educated the public enough about organ transplants, and a donation culture is not yet properly established in our society. Above all, it is caused by people’s prejudice. For a long time, Korea was a Confucian society. People, especially old people, have negative thinking about organ transplantation. Confucian ideas consider that the body is a very precious thing. Because the body is inherited from parents, to hurt the body even a little can be a big sin toward parents. As this thinking still affects people, they consider organ donation is not a contribution but personal damage. So the demand for organ drastically exceeds the number of organ donors. In addition, Korea lacks practical information and knowledge about donation. Also, the social system needs to advance enough to promote organ donation actively. Therefore, there are many people who don’t know about the process of donation.

Nevertheless, nowadays people are changing compared with past days. More people are signing to donate their organs after their death or brain death. Sometimes we see entertainers, actors, and sportspeople sign the form of donation. However, many people don’t know exactly how they can donate organs, even though they want to do so. If you want to sign a written oath of donation, you can download the form from the website of the Korean Network for Organ Sharing, www.konos.go.kr. After filling in the form, submit it to the local organ registration spot. In Daegu, Kyeongpook National University Hospital, Yeongnam University Hospital, Dongsan Hospital, Daegu Catholic University Hospital, and Daege Fatima Hospital are these organizations. After submitting the form, you will get an organ donation card after 2 weeks. With this card, you and you family get a preferential right to be a transplant recipient in case you need an organ. This system has been carried out since mid-2002.

In the case of dead donors without a card who have will, it is possible to donate by their will. Without donor’s will and a card, it is possible to donate by unanimous agreement of their family members. It is surprising that the latter occurs more often than the former in our society.

To choose a proper transplant recipient efficiently, donors are divided into three parts according to their physical condition. A living donor can choose the recipient of his organ directly. Donation among family members can be easily approved, but other cases are very complicated. The recipient of a brain death donor can be selected by the national organ transplant system, and the recipient of a dead donor by the hospital where the dead body is put.

Maybe you will think that Daegu has a very low organ donation rate because of conservatism. But Ju Shin-heon, the manger of Dongsan Hospital’s organ transplant office, said that the rate is not low compared with other cities. Daegu’s donation rate is increasing bit by bit. The numbers of organ donors are highest for Christians, and Buddhists are second. Most people donate corneas and next are kidneys.

We have to make a warm atmosphere in our society in order to promote organ donation. It is not possible to establish a social system which helps to promote organ donation until people change their thinking first. In America, a donor’s family is given official commendation from the nation, and they are very proud of organ donation. But in Korea, donation doesn’t happen a lot, and what’s more, a donor’s family tends to hide the fact. As mentioned above, Confucianism affected Korean. In addition, a donor’s family thinks mainly of his death and doesn’t consider the social meaning of organ donation. Organ donation ought to win praise from many people. However, our society doesn’t applaud it.

As previously stated, Korea’s donation rate stands at a low level. Everyone has to have the attitude “I have to change and then world will be changed” so as to establish donation culture in our society. We should be proud of it and try to notify many people about organ donation. One person can save as many as nine people. The liver, the pancreas, the heart, bone marrow, two kidneys, and two corneas can be donated. We should keep in mind that organ donation is not physical damage but the most beautiful practice of love.

Process for taking an organ donation oath 1. Download the form from the website of the Korean Network for Organ Sharing, www.konos.go.kr. 2. After filling in the form, submit it to the local organ registration spot. 3, Take a physical examination there. 4. If you attain a good result that your body is all right, you will get an organ donation card after 2 weeks.