A 'Proud Father' Who Saved Three Lives: A Daughter's Final Salute to Her 'Alter Ego'

In February, 53-year-old Kim Yong-seop visited a hospital due to shoulder pain.

While waiting for his appointment, Mr. Kim suddenly complained of chest pain, lost consciousness, and collapsed.

The first person contacted in this emergency was his only daughter, Jae-kyung.

[Kim Jae-kyung / Daughter of organ donor Kim Yong-seop: I was working in Chuncheon when I received the news from the hospital. By the time I arrived, he was already on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation).]

As Mr. Kim's condition deteriorated rapidly, medical staff presented his daughter with the options of life-sustaining treatment or organ donation.

Struggling with the decision because she could not give up on her father, Jae-kyung suddenly remembered his words from when he was alive.

[Kim Jae-kyung / Daughter of organ donor Kim Yong-seop: He often said he wanted to be a positive influence on those in need. I thought that since he would be giving new life to others through his final sacrifice, this is certainly what my father would have wanted.]

In February, Mr. Kim donated his liver and kidneys, gifting new life to three people before passing away.

In his youth, he dreamed of becoming a police officer to protect the public, but he eventually had to set aside that dream to provide for his family.

He always emphasized that noble spirit to young Jae-kyung.

[Kim Jae-kyung / Daughter of organ donor Kim Yong-seop: He taught me to stand on the side of those weaker or less fortunate than me, and to always act in a way that I wouldn't be ashamed of.]

Influenced by her father, Jae-kyung always wrote "soldier" in the future career section of her school forms, and she is now a military police officer serving the country in the ROK Army II Corps.

[Kim Jae-kyung / Daughter of organ donor Kim Yong-seop: I could always see that pride in his eyes, and he often called me his 'alter ego.']

To her father, who sacrificed himself for the community and others even in his final moments, Jae-kyung offers her first and last salute.

[Kim Jae-kyung / Daughter of organ donor Kim Yong-seop: I salute my superiors often, but I feel like I didn't salute my dad enough. If it's not too late, I want to show him the respect a child owes a parent. You were a truly proud father, and thank you so much for always telling me such warm and kind words. Loyalty (Chungseong).]

Reported by Kim Ji-wook | Video by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Lee Jung-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News | Source: Korea Organ Donation Agency
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.