Father in His 40s Raises Daughter Alone After Wife's Passing...Gifts New Lives to Six Through Organ Donation

Gifted New Lives to Six People Through Organ Donation
Park's Mother: "I Hope He Continues to Do Good Wherever He Is"

A man in his forties, who had raised his daughter alone after losing his wife, passed away after gifting new lives to six people through brain-dead organ donation.

Donor Jonghee Park. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Korea Organ & Tissue Donation Agency on September 17, Jonghee Park (aged 43) donated his heart, liver, both kidneys, and eyes at Chosun University Hospital on September 4.

On the night of August 23, Park spoke with his mother on the phone as usual. However, he could not be reached the following morning and was found collapsed at home and transported to the hospital. Although he underwent surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage, he eventually reached brain death.

According to his family, Park thought positively about donation during his lifetime. About ten years ago, when Park's mother expressed her intention to donate her body after death, he supported her decision.

An only son, Park was mature from a young age and, reportedly, never caused his mother any trouble. He would take care of his own meals and help with housework while waiting for his mother, who worked late every night.

After graduating, he spent over 20 years working in sales. Following his wife's passing, he had been raising his only daughter on his own.

Whenever he saw elderly people in need, Park would approach them first to help. At work, he treated both colleagues and customers warmly, like family. He was also known to be generous, often returning the favor several times after being treated to a meal.

Donor Jonghee Park. Photo by Yonhap News

Park's mother, Panim Noh, said, "While my son was hospitalized, I kept his phone for him, and many calls came in from worried friends. Many friends and colleagues visited the funeral home as well," she recalled. "Seeing this made me think, 'His life was short, but he lived it well,' and it was a great comfort to me."

She bid her son a last farewell, saying, "Jonghee, I'm very sad that you left so early, but knowing you did such a good deed makes me happy as a mother. Don't worry about me, and I hope you'll continue to do good things wherever you are, just as you did here."

To the recipients of her son's organs, she added, "I hope you live long and healthy lives, carrying on the life that my son could not fully live."

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