16-Year-Old Mongolian Boy Who Considered Korea His Home Saves Five Lives Through Organ Donation

Came to Korea at age six, lived here for ten years
Donated heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys, saving five lives

A 16-year-old boy of Mongolian nationality, who fell into a brain-dead state due to a sudden traffic accident, gave the gift of new life to five people through organ donation before passing away.

Lee Taeo, who gifted a new life to five people through organ donation. Korea Organ Tissue Donation Agency

According to the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency on July 16, Lee Taeo (Otgon Sanjmyatav) saved the lives of five people through brain-dead organ donation at Korea University Guro Hospital on June 11 and passed away.

On the night of June 3, Taeo was involved in a traffic accident and was transferred to the hospital. Although he underwent surgery and treatment, he never regained consciousness and fell into a brain-dead state. Later, his heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys were respectively donated to five patients in need of organ transplants.

Remembering Taeo’s generous and kind-hearted nature, his family made the decision to donate his organs.

His older sister, Yoona, said, "Taeo was always someone who liked to help and give to others before himself. I thought that, if he were alive, he would have said, 'You should have let me help even more people back then,'" explaining why they agreed to the donation.

A Boy Who Considered Korea His Home

Taeo was born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in January 2010. He came to Korea with his parents at the age of six and attended kindergarten, elementary, and middle school before entering his first year of high school.

Taeo grew up feeling more at home with the Korean language and culture than that of Mongolia. He used to cheer for the Korean national football team and would sing the national anthem as naturally as if Korea were his homeland.

He was a cheerful and outgoing student who enjoyed various sports such as basketball, soccer, and judo. He also dreamed of starting his own business in Korea in the future.

Taeo was also known for his thoughtful and caring personality. At his middle school graduation, he reached out to classmates who seemed to be alone to take pictures with them, and after entering high school, he earned the trust of his peers and was elected class president.

More than 100 friends and teachers came to his funeral, shedding tears as they said their final goodbyes.

"I hope you return to our family again"

His mother, Lee Sun-i, gave her final farewell to her son, saying, "Thank you for being born as my beloved son. I was not only able to give you love, but thanks to you, I received so much love and happiness."

She continued, "There is a saying in Mongolia that 'a soul that ascends to the sky is reborn and returns to the family's embrace.' I sincerely hope you return to our family in the future." His sister Yoona also conveyed her feelings, saying, "Taeo, I love you so much."

Lee Samyeol, President of the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, said, "Lee Taeo, who has been a warm member of our society for 10 years, shares a message of life that transcends borders and deeply moves us all. I express my deepest condolences and gratitude to the bereaved family for making such a noble decision even in the midst of heartbreaking farewell."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.