The number of people pledging to donate their organs surged to a fresh high last year, exceeding 1 million for the first time.

According to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.05 million people registered to become organ donors as of last year. This means 1 out of 48 Koreans is willing to donate organs if they die or become brain-dead.

About 400 brain-dead patients donated their organs last year, saving more than 1,600 people in need of a transplant.