Actor Nam Yoon-soo has opened up about his decision to donate a kidney to his father.
In a recent appearance on the YouTube channel “Narae’s Table” on February 19, Nam discussed the kidney transplant he underwent for his father.
Nam donated his kidney to his father in June of last year. According to his agency, Agency Garten, his father’s health had deteriorated in early 2023, and a kidney transplant was deemed necessary for treatment.
After undergoing compatibility tests, Nam was found to be a suitable donor and proceeded with the transplant. When news of the surgery surfaced, his agency shared, “Nam didn’t want this information publicized, but it became known. Thankfully, both Nam and his father were discharged and are recovering well.”
During the show, comedian and host Park Na-rae expressed her surprise, saying, “I read that you donated your kidney to your father, and I was shocked. It’s not an easy decision.”
Nam explained, “I found out about my dad’s condition right before filming the drama ‘City Love Story’.”
When Park asked, “Since you have two brothers, couldn’t one of them have been the donor?” Nam replied thoughtfully, “That’s true, but I felt it was best for me to do it since I’m the most financially stable among us.”
According to Seoul Asan Medical Center, the kidneys play a vital role in filtering waste from the blood. When kidney disease progresses, it can lead to end-stage renal failure, where treatments like hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or kidney transplantation become necessary.
There are two types of kidney donations: living donor transplants (usually from immediate family members, spouses, relatives, or altruistic donors) and deceased donor transplants. Since the human body has two kidneys, a healthy person can safely donate one without affecting their daily life.
However, individuals with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, serious infections, or cancer are excluded from donating. Compatibility tests, including blood type and tissue matching, are essential to ensure the recipient’s body will not reject the donated kidney.