Blood Donation Journey: From Movie Tickets to Lifesaving Contributions

In 2000, during his freshman year of college, Kang Seong-man (강성만), a 44-year-old manager at the pharmaceutical company Yuhan Corporation, began donating blood primarily to receive movie tickets. On June 15, he completed his 181st donation. After joining Yuhan in 2008, he became more committed to blood donation after meeting patients with blood cancer. Kang primarily donates platelets and plasma, using a process that collects only these components while returning the rest to the donor. He estimates that he has donated over 70 liters of blood throughout his life.

Concerns about health are common among frequent donors. The Korean Red Cross has established guidelines to prevent excessive donations, allowing platelet and plasma donations up to 24 times a year, while whole blood donations are limited to five times annually. Kang mentioned that he recently considered eyebrow tattooing, but learned that it would prevent him from donating blood for six months, leading him to abandon the idea. He also ensures to donate before any overseas travel or health check-ups that would restrict his ability to donate for a month.

In recognition of his contributions, Kang received an award from the Minister of Health and Welfare on World Blood Donor Day, celebrated annually on June 14. He recently donated 30 blood donation certificates to a colleague diagnosed with leukemia, who was subsequently recommended for the award by the Korean Leukemia Patients Association.

Kang, who has a son and a daughter, takes his children along when he donates blood. On this occasion, he was accompanied by his 9-year-old son, Ji-hoo (지후). He expressed pride in hearing his children say they want to donate blood like him when they are older.