Dongdaemun-gu in Seoul said 209 of its employees took part in the district's second group blood donation drive of the year Wednesday, held at Mirae Plaza outside the district office under the banner of the annual "Love Blood Donation" campaign.
The drive ran from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with blood donation buses parked at the plaza. Employees stepped away from their desks to undergo health screenings and questionnaires before donating, and walk-ins who had not pre-registered were also welcome.
The group blood donation is not a one-off event but an ongoing community-service initiative the district holds every year to help stabilize the blood supply. In 2024, two drives drew a combined 465 participants; in 2025, three drives brought in 683 donors.
This year's first group drive took place March 6, with 264 participants including district employees and residents. The district said at the time that it planned to continue holding regular blood donation events throughout the year.
The strong turnout among Dongdaemun-gu staff has earned outside recognition as well. Last year, the district recorded the highest single-drive participation among all autonomous districts in Seoul, earning a commendation plaque from the Korean Red Cross on World Blood Donor Day.
To encourage participation, the district grants employees official leave for the day along with four hours of credit toward self-directed learning and volunteer service, and provides gift vouchers and small tokens of appreciation to donors.
"I am grateful to the employees who have consistently participated in blood donation every year and put the spirit of life-sharing into practice," Dongdaemun-gu district mayor Choi Dong-min said. "A single small act by one person can become the blood someone urgently needs and the force that saves a life. We will continue to take part so that the culture of giving that starts in the public sector can spread throughout the community."
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