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Korean actor Kim Sung-min's organs to be donated after death from suicide

SEOUL — South Korean news website Yonhap has reported that actor Kim Sung-min was declared brain dead on Sunday (June 26) after he hanged himself last Friday.

SEOUL — South Korean news website Yonhap has reported that actor Kim Sung-min was declared brain dead on Sunday (June 26) after he hanged himself last Friday.

The report said that Seoul’s St Mary's Hospital officially announced the actor's condition after he fell into a coma. Kim was pronounced brain-dead as of 2am on Sunday, and his condition was reconfirmed around 10.15am.

The hospital said his family had already expressed a willingness to donate his organs after hearing the conclusion after a meeting of its brain death decision committee. Five patients will receive his kidneys, liver, intestines and corneas.

The report also said that the actor attempted suicide by hanging himself in the bathroom of his house after arguing with his wife. He was taken to the hospital, unconscious and in cardiac arrest, and was kept alive with the help of life support.

“We did cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the patient for 37 minutes as soon as he arrived at our hospital in cardiac arrest and later did therapeutic hypothermia to no avail," said Dr Im Ji-yong at the emergency medical department of the hospital.

Dr Yang Chul-woo at the hospital's organ donation centre said, "It is often the case that the bereaved family's decision to donate organs comes too late, missing the golden time (to use the organs), but Kim's family agreed in just two days."

After debuting in a play in 1995, Kim rose to stardom in several hit soaps and films including the popular series, Miss Mermaid, and variety show Qualifications Of Men.

However, he shocked fans when he was arrested for methamphetamine possession and smuggling. He received a jail sentence but was quickly paroled. He was arrested for the same crime in 2015 and released this January after serving 10 months.

Actress Sunwoo, who worked with Kim Sung Min on the show, Qualifications Of Men, expressed her condolences on her Instagram account. "This is a picture that Kim Sung Min drew of me five years ago. He wrote me a letter saying that I had a lot of smiles and tears, and cheered me on saying that my positivity was a good thing. I am sorry I could not be of any help when you were going through difficult times. Please be happy and laugh to your heart’s content without any concerns at that place. Please send my regards to my son when you meet him. R.I.P.”

Kim will be buried on Tuesday. AGENCIES

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