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According to the Korea Organ Donation Agency (KODA), in Korea 2020, the number of brain-dead organ donors was 8.7 per 1 million. Only about 4 percent of the people are registered for organ donation, significantly less than the United States (60 percent) and the United Kingdom (39 percent). Even due to the influence of COVID-19, the number of people wishing to donate organs decreased by 25 percent last year from 2019. Last year, 67,160 people registered that they wanted to donate organs and tissue, and last year was the first time that the number of registrants has fallen below 70,000 over the past decade. People's interest in organ and tissue donation has increased, but actual participation is low. According to the organ and tissue donation recognition survey conducted last year, 96.5 percent of them were aware of the policy on organ donation and 61.6 percent of them were willing to donate. However, 14.6 percent of those who registered to donate, which was very low.
In particular, in the case of human tissues, Korea relies on imports for about 87 percent of the necessary implants because the number of human tissue donors is insufficient. Human tissue donation is used to rebuild tissues with disabilities and to treat patients suffering from various diseases. When donation is activated, it can be supplied to patients in need of transplantation in a timely manner and the economic burden is greatly reduced.
Up to eight people can be saved if one person donates organs, and dozens of patients can be presented with new lives, including tissue donation. The participation of many people is necessary for patients with the only treatment method of organ transplantation. In addition, a culture of organ donation that connects new lives should be spread. You can conveniently participate in organ donation registration through various methods such as the Internet, mail, and fax.