KOREAN NET

Signed an MOU with KMDP and promoted to 51 diplomatic missions and 106 Korean associations

□ The Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA; Commissioner Lee Key-cheol) is actively promoting a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation project to give hope to overseas Koreans suffering from refractory hematologic malignancies.

ㅇ It has been difficult for patients suffering from hematologic malignancies overseas to receive the HSC transplant in their country of residence due to the low probability of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching between different races.

□ As part of the Overseas Koreans Care Project, OKA concluded an MOU with the Korea Marrow Donor Program (KMDP) in December last year to ensure that overseas Koreans can receive HSC transplantation smoothly.

□ OKA distributed related promotional materials, including leaflets about the HSC Transplantation Support Project for Overseas Koreans, to 51 diplomatic missions abroad and 106 Korean associations.

ㅇ Promotional materials include a donor recruitment project, a transplant coordination support project that provides counseling and sample collection during HSC transplantation between blood relatives of overseas Koreans, and a treatment expense support project that provides partial support for HSC collection fees for overseas Koreans.

ㅇ Commissioner Lee Key-cheol said, “Through this project, overseas Koreans who have had difficulty receiving treatment for hematologic malignancies due to the low probability of HLA matching between races in their country of residence will be able to receive practical help.”