보건복지부 영문홈페이지

2014 Status Report on Sharing

-                    Total donation amount increased by 1.5 times from 8.14 trillion won in 2006 to 12.49 trillion won in 2013 –

-                    Donation as a share of GDP rose to 0.87 percent in 2013 from 0.84 percent in 2006 –

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister: Moon Hyung-pyo) released the 2014 Status Report on Sharing after conducting a research based on the available statistical data, such as the statistical yearbook of national tax and the social survey.

-          The purpose of this report is to understand the current status of sharing and to promote the culture of sharing in Korea.

The report is categorized into three sections – i.e. donation, volunteering and organ donation and under each category, the scale of sharing, public perception and attitude toward sharing and characteristics were primarily examined.

The 2014 Status Report on Sharing showed that sharing activities including donation are on the rise in general.

-          The total donation amount increased to 12.49 trillion won in 2013 from 11.15 trillion won in 2011 and the average number of cash donation per person went up by 0.3 times to 6.5 in 2013 from 6.2 in 2011.

The donor participation rate rose by 3.7 percentage points from 32.3 percent in 2009 to 36 percent in 2011, but then slightly fell to 34.5 percent in 2013.

The primary reason for donation was to help those in need, and the twenties, those with higher educational background and high income earners tended to donate more than those in their forties, those with low educational background or low income earners.

For the promotion of the culture of giving, it is important for social leaders and the wealthy people to take more initiatives in donation and donated funds are run in a transparent manner.

-          Volunteering participation rate increased to 17.7 percent in 2013 from 17.6 percent in 2011. While the average participation per person rose by 0.3 times from 7.6 in 2011 to 7.9 in 2013, the average hours spent on volunteering dropped 0.4 hours from 26.9 to 26.5 during the same period.

There was no big difference among genders, while the teens showed highest participation rate by age. By occupation, professional managers and office workers participated the most in volunteering whereas when examined by income level, it was high income earners who showed the highest participation rate. 

Organ donors who have been brain dead increased from 368 in 2011 to 416 in 2013, and organ transplants from brain-dead donors also rose from 1,548 in 2011 to 1,725 in 2013. Kidney transplants were the highest with 1,760, followed by liver and eye transplants.

-          People engaged in the culture of sharing showed higher life satisfaction, were more socially connected and had more positive emotional experiences than those who did not.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that it will enhance the reliability of statistical data through close cooperation with relevant agencies and organizations, and at the same time augment its support to promote the culture of sharing in the private sector.