Singer Kim Ha-neul says family chose organ donation after younger sibling declared brain-dead

Singer Kim Ha-neul, who has performed under the name Romantic Melody Chobi, said the family decided to donate the organs of the singer’s younger sibling after an accident led to a diagnosis of brain death.

In a social media post on the 15th, Kim Ha-neul wrote, “I am sharing sudden and heartbreaking news.” The singer said the younger sibling had been taken to an emergency room following the accident and received medical treatment. After a day of monitoring, doctors determined that there was no prospect of recovery and declared the sibling brain-dead.

Kim Ha-neul said the family reached a joint decision to proceed with organ donation after their final hospital visit that morning. Faced with the loss of a loved one, they chose to help save other lives. The donation decision reflected the sibling’s wishes as well as the family’s agreement.

The singer said funeral arrangements would be announced once the organ donation procedures were complete. Kim Ha-neul asked for prayers for the deceased and support for the surviving family as they endure their grief. The appeal also asked others to share in the family’s sorrow and offer a warm farewell.

Messages of condolence have followed the news of the sudden accident and the family’s decision. Their choice, made amid profound grief, has resonated deeply, accompanied by hopes that the donation will offer someone else a new chance at life.

Organ donation can offer the possibility of saving others as one person’s life draws to an end. For families, it is also a weighty decision made while confronting the pain of losing someone they love.

Kim Ha-neul debuted in 2012 with the EP “Everyday Chobicalling” and has released songs including “Hello, Day,” “I Want You to Be Happy” and “To You, Who Worked So Hard It Hurt.” Performing as Romantic Melody Chobi, the musician has focused on making music rather than mainstream broadcast appearances.

Kim Ha-neul is now preparing a final farewell alongside the family. The singer’s request for prayers conveys both the depth of the loss and concern for those left behind.

Read the original (Korean)