Country: South Korea

Committee: The World Health Organization (WHO)

Topic: Addressing discriminating restrictions and deferrals in blood donations
around the globe.

South Korea relies heavily on donations from students and soldiers for its blood
supply. They account for about a third of the country's total donations.
Even South Korea is considered a country with blood shortages thanks to the fact
that the blood donation rate decreased steadily from 5.7% to 5.0% in the last 5
years since 2017.
One of the factors that has caused this blood shortage is that you have to wait 6
months from leaving the country to be able to donate blood. This is a measure
that applies throughout the year throughout the country.
Also, if you are originally from a country where malaria is endemic, or have been
living there for more than 6 months, that is, in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Uganda, Mozambique, Angola, and Burkina Faso, you must wait 3
years from the leaving the country to come and donate blood.
Since people born in a malaria endemic area may show more resistance when
developing the disease and may not manifest it until after 3 years.
This is done because this disease if not treated immediately, the infection can
worsen and cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma and death.

Despite the fact that August is a month which is considered to be more difficult to
supply blood because high school and university students, who are the main
blood donors, go on vacation.
Thanks to this, on the 22nd, the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation held a blood drive at the
Daegu-Gyeongbuk Blood Bank Auditorium.
A total of 365 people participated that day, including the Korean Red Cross and
the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Blood Bank supported with three blood donation vehicles.
Some politicians also participated in the campaign.
Also the "Life On" campaign was successfully held in Shincheonji encouraging
blood donations across the country, with contributions from the first 6,000 donors
in just 3 days.
Solving in a short period of 14 days the national shortage of blood supply.