World Blood Donation Day, observed annually on June 14th, aims to raise
awareness about the critical need for blood donations and to thank those who
donate. However, in Gyeonggi-do, teenage blood donations are steadily
decreasing.

This decline is attributed to changes in university admissions criteria and a
general reluctance to donate blood due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19
pandemic. Experts emphasize the urgent need for incentives to encourage
teenage participation.

Data from the Korean Red Cross indicates that blood donations in Gyeonggi-do
have remained relatively stable over the past five years: 22,280 in 2020,
22,112 in 2021, 21,788 in 2022, 22,313 in 2023, and 22,329 last year.

However, during the same period, the number of donations from teenagers has
substantially decreased. In 2020, teenage donations totaled 35,544,
representing 15.5% of all donations. This figure marks a sharp 8.8% decrease
from the previous year (24.3%).

Last year, teenage donations reached 36,172, showing little change from 2020,
and accounted for only 15.9% of total donations. This low percentage has
remained consistent since the initial drop four years ago.

A nurse wiht 15 years of experience at the Suwon special Blood Donation Cafe
noted, “I have felt that the number of students participating in blood
donation has been significantly reduced in recent years.”

Experts suggest that the decline in teenage donors is linked to changes in
university regulations and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019,the Ministry of
Education removed blood donation from the list of eligible student volunteer
activities,meaning it could no longer be included in school records,thus
reducing students’ motivation to donate.

Furthermore, the fear of infection during the pandemic and a decrease in the
student population due to low birth rates have also contributed to the
decline.

Baek Chan -ki, head of the Korea Nursing Association, stated, “If there is no
positive perception of donation of students ‘blood donation, the
participation of blood donation will be low even after becoming an adult.” He
added that educational initiatives are needed to improve students’ awareness
of the importance of blood donation, and the education system should
reinstate blood donation as a recognized service activity.

An official from the gyeonggi Blood Center said, “We will take various
measures to encourage students to participate in voluntary blood donation,
such as the SNS campaign and the expansion of blood donor incentives to spread
the 10th blood donation culture.”

“I have felt that the number of students participating in blood donation has
been significantly reduced in recent years.”