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Hyo-ri Kim

Hyo-ri Kim

Donation Volunteer

Hyo-ri Kim is a 27-year-old female nurse in a pediatric unit of a major hospital in Seoul. She is from a middle-class family and was not compensated for her egg donation.


Questions:

1. When did you first hear about the stem cell center’s offer to accept egg donations?
I first heard about their offer to accept donations by an announcement at the hospital that I work at. I am a nurse in the maternity and pediatric units of the hospital, and there was a notice that was sent out explaining who could donate, like what ages of women, and things like that. They sent that notice to the people who worked in the hospital.
2. Why did you decide to donate?
I am very excited to have the new stem cell center in South Korea, especially so close to where I live. Stem cells are an exciting new development, so if our country can become leaders in the field, that’s great for us. You always hear on the news that scientific research is what is making countries more successful. So I thought that if I could help them even just a little bit, it would be a good thing. When I saw the notice that they distributed at the hospital, I called and made an appointment to be a donor for the research.
3. Do you wish you had done anything differently?
No, I’m very proud to be involved, even in such a small way. I hope that the research that is done at the new center helps South Korea. I would donate again if they needed me to do that.
4. Have you heard the recent news coverage of the controversy regarding Kun Chung’s research?
I have heard about the problems that people say Kun Chung has had with his research. I don’t think that the media knows everything about it though, or maybe they don’t have any proof that anyone did anything wrong. I mean, you know how some reporters are…and anyway, I didn’t get paid when I donated, so I don’t think the claims that people are making are true.

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