Korean patient thrives 30 years after receiving nation’s 1st pediatric liver transplant at AMC

In December 1994, an infant fighting for her life due to biliary atresia and cirrhosis defied all odds. Just nine months old, Lee Ji-won became the recipient of Korea’s first-ever pediatric living-donor liver transplant at Asan Medical Center (AMC). Today, that same baby is a vibrant 30-year-old, celebrating not only her life but also the legacy of a groundbreaking surgery that has since transformed the landscape of organ transplantation in Korea and beyond.

AMC’s Organ Transplantation Center recently marked this milestone, reflecting on the journey that began three decades ago. At the time, Lee’s father selflessly donated a portion of his liver to save his daughter.

Since Lee’s operation AMC has become a global leader in liver transplant surgery, having performed 7,392 such procedures—7,032 on adults and 360 on children—more than any other center worldwide.

Living-donor liver transplants involve transplanting a portion of a healthy liver from a living donor. For patients, this method eliminates the wait for a deceased donor and reduces the risk of disease progression while offering high-quality organ grafts.

However, these procedures are notoriously complex, with a higher risk of complications compared to deceased-donor transplants.

Still, AMC has persisted in pioneering this approach, with living-donor procedures comprising 85 percent of its liver transplants.

According to AMC, the hospital's success with pediatric living-donor liver transplants stems from its advanced multidisciplinary care.

Surgeons, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and intensive care specialists work collaboratively to address the unique challenges children face, including malnutrition, growth delays, and immune vulnerabilities.

AMC has also been at the forefront of innovating liver transplantation worldwide.

In 1998, Professor Lee Seung-gyu, an honorary professor of liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery, developed the modified right lobe transplant, now a global standard.

Two years later, he performed the world’s first dual living-donor liver transplant, enabling the use of two partial grafts for one recipient—an option for patients lacking a single sufficient donor. This method has saved 638 lives to date.

Additionally, the center has performed over 1,042 ABO-incompatible living-donor liver transplants, making it the most experienced in this procedure worldwide. With outcomes comparable to blood-type-compatible transplants, the technique expands donor options for critically ill patients.

Donor safety is equally prioritized at the hospital with techniques like laparoscopic liver donation and minimally invasive surgeries that have significantly reduced donor recovery time and surgical scars. Notably, there have been no fatalities or severe complications among the center’s donors.

"The first pediatric living-donor liver transplant in 1994 marked a turning point, enabling us to offer new life to over 7,000 patients,” Lee said. “This achievement is a testament to our team’s courage and dedication, as well as the resilience of our patients."