19-year-old Kang Min-su, who dreamed of becoming a chef, dies after giving seven people a new lease on life

[Financial News] “It wasn’t made with any special ingredients, but the ramen Min-su made was the best.”
The father who lost his son, who had dreamed of becoming a chef, cannot forget how it tasted. Nineteen-year-old Kang Min-su donated his organs, giving seven people a new lease on life before he passed away.
KOTRY said that on September 30 last month, at Myongji Hospital, Kang Min-su gave seven patients a new chance at life through organ donation after brain death.
Kang became brain-dead after an unfortunate accident. His heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, both kidneys and both eyes were transplanted into seven people.
Kang’s parents recalled how their son could never simply pass by someone in need and decided to donate his organs. They believed he would have felt the same way about doing something that could help someone.

His father, Kang Seong-won, said he used to put his ear against his son’s chest and listen to his heartbeat. “It gives me great comfort to think that Min-su’s heart is beating well in someone else’s body,” he said.
Born in Busan, Kang was the second of two children, one boy and one girl. Since childhood, he had dreamed of becoming a chef and opening his own restaurant. To pursue that dream, he attended a culinary high school and a cooking academy, honing his skills. After graduating, he worked at a restaurant to gain experience and save money. He would use the skills he picked up in his spare time to make food and bread for his family, and his father remembers best the ramen his son made.
Like many people his age, Kang enjoyed traveling, sought out restaurants known for good food and got along well with others. When a friend was going through a hard time, he would listen to their problems, and he tried to support anyone in need. He was so warmhearted that, as a child, he would think about how he could help whenever he saw an injured animal.
He was also very close to his family. He and his sister, who was four years older, were so close they never even argued. Every summer, he and his father would go alone to Busan’s beaches and enjoy time in the water. His father said that even now, when he sees the sea, he remembers teaching his son to swim.
His father said a final goodbye to his son: “Min-su, I miss you so much—your face and voice as you came up to me calling me Dad. Dad will always be right here, so come visit once in a while. I’ll keep watching over you so you don’t lose your way. I miss you so much and love you.”
He urged the transplant recipients, “I hope you’ll see and enjoy as much of the world Min-su wanted to see as you can, and live happily without getting sick.”
KOTRY head Lee Sam-yeol said, “Kang Min-su, who pursued his dream of becoming a chef while caring for those around him with a heart warmer than anyone else’s, has passed away after saving seven lives.” He added, “I hope the family’s decision to share the gift of life, even amid the grief of losing their son, will be remembered by many people for a long time.”


[email protected] Medical correspondent Jung Myung-jin Reporter