SEOUL, October 24: The World Health Organization (WHO) has joined forces with global K-pop group ENHYPEN to encourage young people to donate blood, using the group’s international following and social media reach to promote a healthcare service that remains essential for hospitals worldwide.
The partnership gained renewed attention on October 23, when WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met the group’s members in Seoul to recognise their contribution to the organisation’s 2026 World Blood Donor Day campaign.
Launched on June 14, the initiative combined digital outreach, social media videos and public pledges to encourage voluntary, unpaid blood donation. It sought to turn online engagement into practical action by motivating supporters to learn about donation, assess their eligibility and participate in local blood donation programmes.
According to the WHO, its global “Drop Your Drop” campaign had received more than 9,000 pledges from people across 177 countries. More than 3,250 participants identified themselves as members of ENHYPEN’s fan community, known as ENGENE.
The figures illustrate how entertainment personalities and online communities can help communicate public health messages to younger audiences. The initiative also reflects the WHO’s broader emphasis on building reliable blood supplies through regular voluntary donations rather than relying solely on emergency appeals.
Using music to promote a healthcare priority
Blood and blood products are indispensable to modern healthcare. Hospitals need them for emergency treatment, major surgery, childbirth complications, severe anaemia, cancer care and numerous other medical conditions.
Yet maintaining an adequate supply is an ongoing challenge. Blood components have limited shelf lives, meaning that donations must continue throughout the year to meet routine clinical needs as well as unexpected surges in demand.
The WHO has repeatedly highlighted inequalities in access to safe blood. Countries with fewer resources may struggle to maintain sufficient supplies, reliable collection systems, laboratory testing and appropriate storage facilities.
Against this backdrop, the partnership with ENHYPEN aims to make blood donation more visible among younger people who may not otherwise engage with traditional public health campaigns.
The group’s members used videos and online messages to explain why blood donation matters and encourage their fans to participate. Their international audience enabled the message to reach communities across different countries and languages.
Tedros praised the group’s contribution, noting that the campaign had reached millions of people. He also highlighted the ability of ENHYPEN and its supporters to use their collective influence for a public health cause.
The WHO’s strategy is based on the idea that trusted public figures can help make health information more accessible, particularly when the message is shared through platforms that young audiences already use.
However, online awareness is only one part of the process. Converting interest into actual donations requires accessible collection centres, clear eligibility guidance, trained medical personnel and public confidence in the safety of the donation system.
Members lead by example
As part of the initiative, ENHYPEN members visited a Korean Red Cross blood donation centre in Seoul. All seven members underwent donor eligibility screening, while members JAY and JUNGWON donated plasma.
The visit provided a practical example of the process and reinforced the campaign’s message that participation should be based on appropriate screening and medical guidance.
Whole blood, plasma and platelets are collected for different clinical purposes. Whole-blood donations can be separated into components, while plasma and platelets may also be collected through specialised procedures.
Plasma contains proteins and other substances needed for important bodily functions. It is used in the production of certain medical therapies and in clinical situations where plasma products are required.
Platelets help blood clot and are particularly important for some patients receiving cancer treatment or experiencing conditions that reduce platelet counts.
The type of donation accepted depends on local requirements, the donor’s health and the collection facility’s procedures. Potential donors should follow the guidance of qualified staff rather than assume that every form of donation is suitable for them.
The WHO campaign has encouraged people to make informed decisions and engage with established donation services. Its central message is that blood donation should be voluntary, safe and supported by proper medical screening.
Why regular donors are essential
Blood shortages can affect the timing and availability of medical treatment. Patients requiring transfusions may include people involved in road accidents, women experiencing severe bleeding during childbirth, children with serious anaemia and individuals undergoing complex surgery.
Transfusions are also important in the treatment of several cancers and blood disorders. Some patients need repeated transfusions, making the availability of suitable blood products a continuing requirement rather than a one-time emergency need.
Blood banks therefore need a stable pool of donors who can contribute regularly when eligible. A system that depends heavily on last-minute appeals may struggle to respond quickly when several hospitals require the same blood group or component.
Voluntary, unpaid donation is central to the WHO’s recommended approach because it supports a sustainable supply and places donor welfare at the centre of collection programmes.
Regular donations must nevertheless be managed carefully. Donors need appropriate intervals between donations, and blood collection services must assess their health and haemoglobin levels according to applicable standards.
Collected blood and its components must also undergo the required screening and processing before being supplied to patients. These safeguards help reduce the risk of transmitting infections and ensure that products meet the necessary quality requirements.
The campaign’s emphasis on voluntary participation complements these wider responsibilities. Encouraging more people to donate is valuable only when collection, testing, storage and distribution systems can manage donations safely.
Digital communities extend the campaign’s reach
The involvement of ENGENE has been an important element of the initiative. Fans from countries including Indonesia, the Philippines, Germany and the United States shared photographs and personal accounts of donating blood.
This participation helped move the campaign beyond digital viewing and into local healthcare settings. Instead of merely watching promotional content, supporters could use the campaign as a reason to learn about eligibility requirements and contact nearby donation services.
Social media can be particularly effective at spreading information quickly across borders. However, the quality of that information matters, especially when health messages involve medical eligibility, safety or personal decisions.
The WHO’s involvement provides an institutional source for the campaign’s health message. Established blood services can then offer the practical information donors need, including appointment procedures, identification requirements, screening and post-donation care.
Public health organisations may also learn from the campaign’s approach to communicating with younger audiences. Traditional awareness materials can be supplemented by short videos, community participation and messages shared by people who already have a strong relationship with their audiences.
Such approaches do not replace investment in healthcare infrastructure. Instead, they can help existing blood donation services reach potential donors who might otherwise remain unaware of the need.
Addressing unequal access to safe blood
Although blood donation is widely recognised as an important public health activity, access to safe blood remains uneven between and within countries.
Differences in healthcare funding, collection facilities, laboratory capacity and transport systems can affect whether hospitals have the blood products they need. Remote communities may face additional barriers if donation centres are far away or collection services operate infrequently.
Ensuring a reliable supply requires more than increasing the number of people who express willingness to donate. Health systems must establish organised national services capable of recruiting donors, collecting blood, conducting tests, storing products under appropriate conditions and distributing them where required.
Public confidence is also important. People are more likely to participate when donation procedures are transparent, trained staff explain the process and concerns about donor safety are addressed clearly.
The WHO’s focus on regular, voluntary and unpaid donation reflects the need for sustainable systems that can serve patients consistently. Campaigns that encourage first-time donors can help expand the potential donor base, while follow-up communication may encourage eligible participants to return when permitted.
For countries experiencing recurring shortages, a stronger culture of voluntary donation can support hospitals and reduce dependence on emergency recruitment.
Building long-term participation
The October 23 meeting in Seoul also provided an opportunity for the WHO, ENHYPEN, representatives of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Red Cross to discuss future collaboration.
The organisations explored opportunities to continue promoting blood donation and other health priorities among young people. The discussions suggest that the campaign is intended to support continuing public engagement rather than serve only as a single-day awareness activity.
Maintaining participation will require sustained communication and practical opportunities to donate. Young people who respond to a campaign need reliable information about where donations are accepted, who can donate and how the process works.
Healthcare services can strengthen these efforts by providing accessible appointment systems, explaining eligibility criteria and communicating how collected blood products support patients.
The impact of awareness initiatives should ultimately be assessed through meaningful indicators, including completed donations, donor retention and the ability of blood services to maintain adequate supplies. Pledges and online engagement demonstrate interest, but they are not equivalent to completed donations.
The WHO’s reported figures nevertheless show the geographical reach of the campaign and the involvement of a substantial international fan community.
A broader role for public health partnerships
The ENHYPEN collaboration demonstrates how healthcare organisations can work with the entertainment industry to communicate messages beyond conventional medical settings.
Artists and online communities can attract attention, while health agencies provide evidence-based guidance and established donation services turn interest into action. When these roles are coordinated effectively, a public campaign can connect awareness with practical participation.
The wider challenge remains ensuring that safe blood is available whenever patients need it. That requires dependable donors, well-equipped collection services, robust testing and distribution systems, and continued public trust.
By encouraging young people to consider voluntary blood donation, the WHO and ENHYPEN are seeking to strengthen one of the basic foundations of healthcare. The long term success of the initiative will depend on whether its international visibility translates into sustained participation and more reliable access to lifesaving blood products.