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South Korean actor Kim Sung-min has been confirmed to be brain dead, with his family expressing a wish to donate his organs, a local hospital said Sunday.
Seoul St. Mary's Hospital officially announced the actor's condition after he fell into a coma two days ago.
Kim was pronounced brain-dead as of 2 a.m. Sunday, and his condition was reconfirmed around 10:15 a.m. this morning.
The hospital reached its final conclusion after a meeting of its brain death decision committee, where experts thoroughly went through data pertaining to his medical state.
The hospital said his family had already expressed a willingness to donate his organs after hearing the conclusion.
Kim will undergo surgery this afternoon so his organs can be donated.
On Friday, the actor attempted suicide by hanging himself in the bathroom of his house after arguing with his wife. He was taken to the hospital, unconscious and in cardiac arrest, and has been kept alive with the help of life support.
The hospital will hold a briefing around 1 p.m. Sunday to give the full details of the actor's condition and the process of organ donation.
Kim rose to stardom on the popularity of MBC's 2002 series "Mermaid Lady." However, he shocked his fans in 2011, when he was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail, with a four-year stay of execution, for taking drugs. Last year, he was arrested for the same crime and released in January. (Yonhap)
