Buddhist and Catholic networks in Korea have combined their efforts in a bid to breathe new life into a nationwide organ donor drive.

The One-body One-spirit Movement (OSOB) of the Seoul Archdiocese has joined with the Buddhist-operated Life Share Association and Vitallink, a transplantation medical experts’ group, to launch a new national organization to be known as the Korea Donate Life Network (KODONET).

The launch ceremony for the new network is slated to be held at the Buddhist Dongguk University in Seoul on Sept. 11.

“The network will share information on organ donations, promote campaigns and work to spread a positive organ donation culture,” said John Bosco Yun Kyung-jung, life movement manager of OSOB.

“Currently, the organ donor movement operates separately for each religion. However, through this network, our Catholic organ donation campaign will reach the general public as well as our own faithful,” he added.

Organ donations surged in 2008 after the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan donated his eyes.

OBOS registered 30,000 organ donations in 2009 alone, equaling the combined total for the whole twenty year period from 1989 to 2008.

According to the Korean Network for Organ Sharing, a government agency, some 17,000 were awaiting organ transplants in 2009. However, organ donations were obtained from only 261 brain-dead patients.

Related reports
Korean pro-life group seeks organ donors
Korean movie star signs up for organ donation

KO10943.1616