A man in his 40s who supported his family by delivering for 14 hours a day donated organs to four people and died after being declared brain-dead in a traffic accident.
According to the Korea Organ Donation Agency (KODA) on the 8th, Choi Jeong-seop, 46, donated his heart, liver and both kidneys at Korea University Guro Hospital on July 24.
Choi had originally worked in electrical construction, but as the economy worsened, he switched to making a living by motorcycle delivery about a year ago.
Then on the night of July 17, while he was doing delivery work amid pouring rain, he was in a traffic accident and was seriously injured. He was taken to a hospital for surgery but never regained consciousness and was declared brain-dead.
Born in Seoul as the eldest of one son and one daughter, Choi had effectively taken on the role of head of household since his early 20s. After his father died following a long illness, he supported his mother and younger sister.
His mother and younger sister also had poor health and spent time in hospitals, and Choi, who cared for both of them, was said to have always put his family first.
While watching over his family's illnesses during his lifetime, Choi said several times that if something bad happened to him, he wanted to help others. His family respected his wishes and agreed to the organ donation.
After starting delivery work, Choi worked more than 14 hours a day. He usually enjoyed hiking or walking on trails, but he reportedly had little time for hobbies because he was responsible for supporting his family.
Because he had worked nonstop since his early 20s, the biggest regret for his family was not being able to travel together or spend enough leisurely time.
Choi's brother-in-law, Kang Il-gyu, said, "He was always a diligent and responsible person to his family, relatives and acquaintances," adding, "I, too, relied on him a lot because I knew his character."
Kang also offered a final farewell to Choi. "Please don't work in heaven and rest comfortably. I am always grateful and only sorry. As your younger sibling and my wife, I will take good care of her from now on. Please be happy there, and keep a good watch over us as a couple."