Cheonan's 17-year-old Kim Myeong-bin, Small Intestine Transplant Costs 40 Million Won... Her Wish is to Eat Tteokbokki

The unstoppable dream of seventeen-year-old Kim Myeong-bin from Sharing 0700

*Broadcast Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 11:25 AM, EBS1

The story of seventeen-year-old Kim Myeong-bin, whose wish is to eat delicious food to her heart's content.

“‘Why am I the only one with tubes, receiving IV fluids, and unable to eat delicious food?’, ‘Why is it only me who doesn't have intestines’ (I think). It feels sorrowful and unfair that it's only me. My wish is to eat delicious food to my heart's content.” - Daughter Kim Myeong-bin

Kim Myeong-bin (17) lives alone with her mother, Kim Min-seo (45), in a rental house in Cheonan. Having experienced delayed growth since childhood, Kim Myeong-bin was diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and autism. At the time, her mother, Kim Min-seo, blamed herself for raising her daughter in a difficult environment. Despite this, Kim Myeong-bin is a seventeen-year-old girl who is happiest when singing and dancing. Her dream is to become a wonderful trot singer. Lately, Kim Myeong-bin has one wish as earnest as her dream of becoming a singer: to eat her favorite foods like tteokbokki, ramen, and chicken feet to her heart's content. However, at an age when there is so much she wants to eat, all Kim Myeong-bin can consume is small amounts of porridge and eggs. Four years ago, after undergoing major surgery to remove her entire small intestine and part of her large intestine due to necrotizing enterocolitis, she began suffering from short bowel syndrome. Even now, the mother's heart is heavy whenever she looks at her daughter living with tubes connected to her abdomen.

Receiving IV fluids for 12 hours every day and constant need for rehabilitation exercises

“Kim Myeong-bin has to receive IV fluids every day to stay alive. Because she has to receive IV fluids every day, we are preparing for it now.” - Mother Kim Min-seo

“Whether it's not being able to stand on one foot for even 10 seconds, or descending stairs one step at a time, looking at those things, there are parts she cannot do even among things a 5-year-old can do. Since her physical size is at Kim Myeong-bin's age group, if she falls here, there is a higher probability of getting injured.” - Rehabilitation therapist

Due to the risk of infection, Kim Myeong-bin cannot go to school and spends most of her time at home. To supplement her insufficient nutrition, she must receive IV fluids for 12 hours every day. To recover the muscle strength lost after surgery and to prevent the intestines from sticking together, she also continues regular rehabilitation exercises. Although her body lacks the strength even to descend stairs, Kim Myeong-bin silently follows through with the difficult exercises. Her mother stays by her daughter's side 24 hours a day. Not only does she prepare Kim Myeong-bin's IV fluids every day, but she also has to take care of every single task, such as disinfecting and washing the tubes connected to her body.

Please support Kim Myeong-bin, who dreams of an ordinary day, with your heart

“As a result, (for Kim Myeong-bin) to finally grow and be able to eat with peace of mind... the method is that she is in a state where she must undergo a small intestine transplant.” - Vascular transplant surgeon

“(The transplant surgery cost) was said to be expected to be around 40 million won, but if you consider the medical expenses incurred during the waiting period while preparing for surgery, it should be seen as costing much more than that.” - Mother Kim Min-seo

Currently, a small intestine transplant is essential for Kim Myeong-bin to recover her health. However, not only is the transplant surgery itself expected to cost about 40 million won, but medical consumable costs, such as the daily necessary IV fluids and medical supplies, continue to occur while waiting for the surgery. Since Kim Myeong-bin's family currently lives on basic livelihood security benefits, it is a difficult situation to bear all these costs entirely. The mother hopes her daughter regains her health as soon as possible, but she only feels infinitely small in the face of the harsh reality. Please give your precious interest and love so that Kim Myeong-bin can safely receive a small intestine transplant and regain an ordinary daily life where she can eat what she wants to eat to her heart's content.

Sharing 0700 is EBS's representative social contribution program that supports neighbors in need by collecting donations of 3,000 won per call. In the episode 'Seventeen-year-old Kim Myeong-bin's Unstoppable Dream' of , which broadcasts on EBS 1TV on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 11:25 AM, the story of Kim Myeong-bin, who needs a small intestine transplant due to short bowel syndrome but is bravely nurturing her dreams, and her mother is told.

*Related photos are available on the EBS institutional website (about.ebs.co.kr)-Cyber PR Office-Highlights, on the corresponding broadcast date.

◆ At a Glance

· Issuing Organization : EBS

· Category : Sharing 0700

· Distribution : September 25

Source : EBS Press Release

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