South Korea Sees Sharp Drop in Blood Donors
- Minseo Kim
- Apr 8
- 1 min read
April 8, 2025
Minseo Kim
South Korea is facing a critical challenge in maintaining a stable blood supply as the number of blood donors continues to decline. According to recent data, only around 1.26 million people donated blood at least once in 2024 — a 25% decrease compared to a decade ago. Among the population eligible to donate (aged 16–69), only 3.27% participated, a noticeable drop from 4.43% in 2014.
While the total number of blood donations has remained relatively stable, thanks to an increase in people donating multiple times a year, experts are sounding the alarm: relying on frequent donors is not a sustainable solution.
Meanwhile, blood donation is grounded in core biological principles. When a person donates blood—typically 400–500 mL per session—the body rapidly compensates for the lost plasma and gradually replenishes red blood cells within a few weeks. This regenerative capability allows healthy adults to safely donate whole blood every 8 weeks and platelet donations every 2 weeks through apheresis.
The donated blood is vital for surgery patients, cancer treatments, accident victims, and those with chronic conditions like anemia. Yet blood has a short shelf life — red cells can be stored for 42 days, platelets for just 5 — which underscores the need for a steady stream of donors.
