Win Htut Zaw, an immigrant from Myanmar who had worked at a Korean factory since 2012, saved the lives of four Koreans by donating his organs upon his death, the Korea Organ Donation Agency said.

Win Htut Zaw

The 44-year old man died following a fatal injury at work in January despite getting surgery at a hospital in Busan and treatment at an intensive care unit for two weeks. Zaw died Saturday after doctors transplanted his heart, liver, and left and right kidney into four Korean patients, saving their lives.

His family said they decided to donate his organs after they were told at the end of February that Zaw would be brain dead. The family noted that they are happy to have saved four lives.

“We decided to donate [his organs] because Myanmar has a strong religious belief based on Buddhism and a culture of organ donation,” Zaw’s sister said. “We believe doing good in this life will lead to the birth of good relationship in the next, and Zaw would have been happy to have saved someone’s life since, as he often shared what he had with those less fortunate.”

Zaw came to Korea on a work visa in 2012 and had since worked at the car factory, winning recognition for his work ethic, the organ donation agency said. His family members said that Zaw was altruistic and considered Korea to be his second home.

His family also refused to take the government’s funds usually given to cover the cost of the organ donors’ funerals, choosing instead to donate the sum to an institution that helps children in need.

Zaw’s funeral will be held Tuesday at Miryang Hospital, South Gyeongsang Province.

yjc@docdocdoc.co.kr

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