A man in his 20s who died after a truck plowed into Bucheon Jeil Market in Nov. this year saved three lives by donating his organs after being declared brain-dead.
On Dec. 11, according to the Korea Organ Donation Agency (KODA), Moon Young-in, 23, visited Bucheon Jeil Market with his mother on Nov. 13 to buy groceries a day before his father's birthday. While his mother went into a store to pay, he was struck in an accident by a truck that sped in.
Moon was taken to a hospital and treated, but he did not regain consciousness and was pronounced brain-dead. With the family's consent, Moon donated his heart, lungs and liver, giving life to three people.
The family felt a sense of loss at the medical staff's words that he "might not last three days," but said they decided on organ donation hoping it would help someone else.
Born in Bucheon as the younger of one son and one daughter, Moon had a congenital intellectual disability. But thanks to family care and rehabilitation treatment, he attended school and carried on daily activities. The family said he loved most making coffee and bread with his friends.
His mother, Choi Seo-young, said, "Young-in was an angel, and I'm sorry I couldn't be with you more." She added, "In heaven, pursue the dreams you couldn't achieve to your heart's content and be happy," and said goodbye: "I will live harder, thinking that somewhere your heart is beating."