Park Soon-ja, who was a silver medalist in women's hockey at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and a gold medalist at the 1986 Asian Games, passed away after donating her organs, saving four patients.
The Korea Organ Donation Agency noted, "On the 30th of last month at Kyunghee University Hospital, Ms. Park Soon-ja gifted her heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys to four individuals through brain-dead organ donation."
Ms. Park, who had been receiving treatment for headaches since September, collapsed at a local swimming pool on the evening of the 21st of last month and was taken to the hospital but did not regain consciousness and fell into a brain-death state.
While alive, Ms. Park often expressed her desire to donate her organs after hearing in TV broadcasts about people who die because they could not receive organ transplants, and her family agreed to honor her wishes.
Born as the youngest of five siblings in Pyeongtaek, Ms. Park was active and enjoyed sports from a young age, and she was known to approach those in difficult situations to offer help. She had a career as an athlete in middle school before switching to hockey in high school, winning a gold medal at the 1986 Asian Games and a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. After retiring from the national women's hockey team, she worked while sponsoring the less fortunate every month and consistently participated in volunteer work.
Until recently, she went hiking every week and enjoyed swimming, running, and cycling. This year, she also completed the Han River triathlon and the Seoul Peace Marathon 10 km.
Her son Kim Tae-ho said, "Mom, you worked hard to raise me. I can still picture your joy when I found a job. You told me you loved me every day, and I feel sorry that I couldn't say it back. I love you a lot and am grateful to you."