South Korea’s Health Ministry unveiled its first national organ donation reform on Thursday, aiming to address critical transplant shortages. The plan introduces organ donation after circulatory death (DCD), marking a major shift in the country’s donation system. Organ donation reform seeks to balance the growing gap between transplant demand and available donors.
Currently, nearly 55,000 people await organ transplants in South Korea, with some waiting up to eight years. On average, patients wait four years for a kidney, and 8.5 people die daily before receiving a needed organ. Organ donation reform responds to this alarming reality, as brain-dead donor numbers declined from 478 in 2020 to 397 in 2024. Meanwhile, the waiting list increased from 43,182 to 54,789.
The Health Ministry’s 2026–2030 framework outlines multiple measures to expand donations. Organ donation reform will allow patients to donate organs after life-support withdrawal, following a five-minute “no-touch period.” Lee Sam-yeol, head of the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, explained that this process mirrors internationally recognized DCD protocols.
The plan also aims to boost donor registration from 3.6 percent to 6 percent by 2030 and raise brain-dead donor rates from 7.8 to 11 per million people. Authorities will expand registration centers from 462 to 904, including local government offices and the Korea Road Traffic Authority.
Additionally, the ministry will simplify reporting systems, improve medical staff compensation, and review eligible organs as technology advances. The reforms enhance recognition for donors and families, considering expanded financial support and memorial spaces in hospitals and public buildings.
Tissue donation will also see increased focus, as over 90 percent of tissues used domestically are imported. Officials plan to support local tissue banks and train collection specialists. Stricter oversight for living and minor donors, including potential limits, will further safeguard ethical practices.
Organ donation reform reflects South Korea’s effort to create a transparent, accessible, and life-saving donation system amid rising transplant needs and an aging population. Experts say these measures could significantly improve transplant outcomes and save thousands of lives.
