By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
South Korean government on Friday approved a revised bill on ``organ transplants’’, which allows drivers’ licenses to display their donor status.

The bill stipulates that anyone who wants to donate their organs after death must register their status as a donor on their drivers’ licenses.

``Once enacted, the law will help medical authorities swiftly transplant organs to others as soon as they check for donor status on their drivers’ licenses,’’ an official from the Health and Welfare Ministry said. ``Some western countries including the United States, Britain and Australia have already introduced the system.’’

The new legislation will also facilitate the procedure for authorities in obtaining consent from a family over whether to donate their child’s organs or not. At present, consent from both parents is essential for removal of body organs from those under 19 years old.

Under the bill, however, approval from a single parent and two close family members will be needed to allow donations, under inevitable circumstances that a parent is missing or suffers from a mental disorder, the official explained.

The bill is also expected to offer a paid holiday to any worker who takes a physical check-up to decide his or her physical fitness for organ donations as well as fund of an estimated 6 million won to a person or their family as compensation upon receipt of an organ.

The ``organ transplant’’ bill will take effect as early as next year after the National Assembly gives its approval.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr