Korean Red Cross Blood Services

What Korean Red Cross Blood Services does

Korean Red Cross Blood Services (Korean Red Cross 血液管理本部) is the sole national provider of blood products in South Korea, operating as a specialized division of the Korean Red Cross headquartered in Wonju. Mandated under the Blood Management Act, the organization collects, tests, processes, and distributes blood products to medical institutions nationwide. Its physical footprint comprises 15 blood centers, 3 testing centers, 1 plasma fractionation center, and 1 research institute, supported by a registered donor pool of more than 2.6 million annually and an ABO Friends loyalty program with 2.37 million members.

Core technical infrastructure centers on two proprietary systems: BIMS (Blood Information Management System), which manages donor registration, screening, and inventory, and BISS (Blood Information Sharing System), which interfaces with hospital workflows for ordering and traceability. Testing capabilities include Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) deployed since 2005 and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) introduced in 2022; KRCBS reports zero HIV transfusion-transmitted infections since 2003. The organization has held three consecutive WHO Collaborating Centre designations (2014, 2018, 2022), with a fourth re-designation underway for 2026, positioning it as an international reference authority.

Revenue is generated through regulated blood service fees charged to hospitals, with pricing set by the Ministry of Health and Welfare; KRCBS notes these fees run at roughly one-quarter of the OECD average. The organization operates donor-engagement platforms including the RedConnect mobile app (launched 2019 with SK Telecom), a computerized Blood Donation Voucher program (2025), and partnerships with over 1,463 corporate and cultural sponsors (including Nexon's Blue Archive). Its international footprint expanded in 2025 with a KOICA-funded project to strengthen Uzbekistan's national blood transfusion system through 2030.

Name

Korean Red Cross Blood Services

Legal name

대한적십자사 혈액관리본부

Website

https://bloodinfo.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Korean Red Cross Blood Services is South Korea's sole mandated blood-product provider under the Blood Management Act, operating 15 collection centers, 3 testing facilities, and a national donor registry serving all domestic medical institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blood Banking Services

NAICS

Blood and Organ Banks (621991), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Transfusion Medicine & Immunohematology (Blood Bank) (HLAFAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Blood Bank, Transfusion Medicine & Immunohematology (HLAHAAAH), Plasma Collection & Donor Services (Plasmapheresis Centers) (HLAIAHAH), Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine LIS (HLACAMAE), Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations (BPAGACAJ), Plasma-Derived & Blood Products Distributors (HLAIAJAJ)

Keywords

• Blood collection services
• Blood banking services
• Plasma fractionation
• Blood safety testing
• Hematopoietic stem cell donation

Headquarters

HQ city

Wonju

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Blood Service Fee (혈액수가): Revenue is derived solely from blood service fees (혈액수가) as mandated by Article 11 of the Blood Management Act, set by the Minister of Health and Welfare. Fees cover operational costs including personnel, medical supplies, commemorative gifts, blood center rent, and promotional expenses. Korean blood pricing is approximately 1/4 of OECD countries such as Japan and the United States. Member donations via the 헌혈기부권 program (5,000 KRW for whole blood/plasma/platelet; 8,500 KRW for multi-component platelet-plasma donations) are contributions to charitable causes and are not revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels17 records

Core offering

Korean Red Cross Blood Services is the legally mandated national blood management organization that recruits voluntary blood donors through a network of 15 regional blood centers, fixed blood collection sites, and mobile blood buses; screens, tests, and processes donated blood including nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT); manufactures blood components (red blood cells, platelets, plasma) and plasma-derived pharmaceuticals (albumin, immunoglobulins, clotting factors); and supplies these products to medical institutions across South Korea via the BISS national platform. It also registers hematopoietic stem cell donors and operates Korea's only public-sector plasma fractionation facility and dedicated blood transfusion research institute.

Product overview

The Korean Red Cross Blood Services operates a comprehensive blood management ecosystem centered on two core digital platforms: BIMS (Blood Information Management System) for integrated donor-to-patient blood management, and BISS (Blood Information Sharing System) for national blood data exchange. The flagship consumer-facing product is the Red Connect mobile app, which provides blood donation reservation, health record management, and certificate services. Supporting services include blood donation centers and mobile buses, electronic questionnaires, blood donation certificates with reissuance capability, and the ABO Friends loyalty program with over 2.3 million members. Additional programs cover hematopoietic stem cell donation registration, plasma fractionation for pharmaceuticals, blood testing services at three regional centers, and public awareness initiatives including blood donation contests and World Blood Donor Day celebrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 레드커넥트 (Red Connect): Official Korean Red Cross Blood Services mobile app for blood donation registration, appointment booking, blood test results, and blood donation records.
• ABO Friends
• 생명나눔단체
• 나눔히어로즈 (Sharing Heroes)
• 헌혈레드카펫 / 명예의 전당

Products and services

• RedConnect Mobile App (레드커넥트) Official mobile application of Korean Red Cross Blood Services enabling blood donation reservations, electronic pre-screening questionnaire, blood test result viewing with age/gender comparative analysis, donation history, blood center and bus location search with navigation, donation certificate management, and event promotions. Available on Android and iOS. Co-developed with SK Telecom.
• Blood Components (혈액제제) Blood components manufactured from donated blood including packed/concentrated red blood cells, platelet concentrates, and fresh frozen plasma, supplied to hospitals and clinics across South Korea for clinical transfusion use. Pricing set under the regulated blood service fee (혈액수가) per Article 11 of the Blood Management Act.
• Plasma-Derived Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceutical products manufactured from donated plasma at the GMP-certified Plasma Fractionation Center in Eumseong, including albumin (for burn/shock patients), immunoglobulin concentrates, and blood coagulation factor products (for hemophilia patients). Produced for clinical use and supplied to licensed pharmaceutical companies for further manufacturing into finished dose forms.
• Blood Testing Services (혈액검사) Comprehensive blood screening services delivered through three regional Blood Testing Centers (Central, Central-Southern, Southern) including Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAT) for HIV, HBV, HCV, blood typing, syphilis screening, and other infectious disease markers. Achieved zero HIV transfusion-transmission cases since 2003. CMIA (Chemiluminescent Immunoassay) system adopted in 2022 to improve testing efficiency.
• Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donation Registration (조혈모세포 기증) Registration program for hematopoietic stem cell donors aged 18-40, facilitating bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell donations for leukemia and other patients. Donor data registered with KONOS (National Organ, Tissue and Blood Management System) administered by the National Institute of Organ and Blood Management.
• Blood Donation Certificate (헌혈증서) Certificate issued upon each blood donation that entitles the donor to receive blood products free of charge at medical institutions (copayment waiver) at transfusion time. Certificates issued after September 2022 are eligible for reissuance; mobile-based notifications replaced paper format in 2025.
• Blood Information Sharing System (BISS / 혈액정보공유시스템) National inter-institutional data exchange platform connecting hospitals and blood centers for real-time donor eligibility screening, blood reservation and order processing, test result input/retrieval, and dispatch and inventory management. Includes dual-authentication security for donor privacy and is linked to national blood supply-demand policy and KDCA blood-borne infection data, HIRA prescription drug data, and Ministry of National Defense data.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero HIV transfusion infections since 2003, attributed to mandatory nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) on all donated blood.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nexon (넥슨)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 August 2026Nexon and Blood Management Headquarters jointly conduct the 'Blue Archive Saving Lives Together' blood donation campaign. Online promotions offer character goods to participating donors. Offline promotions at blood collection sites distribute Blue Archive character goods (15,000 units per month in June and August 2025). Corporate social responsibility partnership promoting blood donation through gaming IP.
• Callisco (캘리스코)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 July 2026Callisco partnered with the Korean Red Cross to promote blood donation culture. Collaboration includes promotional campaigns and donor benefits, announced July 2026.
• Korea Housing Management Corporation Gangwon Branch (주식회사 한국주택관리공사 강원지사)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2025Life-sharing partnership agreement with Gangwon Blood Center for regular blood donation events and promotion of advanced blood donation culture. Signed April 15, 2026.
• Yoogane (유가네닭갈비 / 바이올푸드글로벌)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 February 2025Yoogane chicken provides 7,000 KRW dining gift certificates to blood donors. 300,000 coupons distributed March–April 2025; 600,000 coupons (200,000 each in January, May, September 2026). Partnership supports donor appreciation through restaurant discounts.
• Kyobo Bookstore (교보문고)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 December 2024Kyobo Bookstore offers up to 10% discount on books and stationery at all offline stores nationwide for blood donors, running from December 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026. Partnership promotes blood donation culture through bookstore channels.
• Mexicana (멕시카나)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 2024Mexicana chicken chain provides 5,000 KRW discount coupons to blood donors. Total of 200,000 coupons in January 2025, 300,000 in summer 2025, and 300,000 in March–April 2026. Partnership supports donor recognition and community engagement.
• CKDCare (종근당건강)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 May 2024CKDCare (Chong Kun Dang Health) donated Promega Altizyme Omega-3 Dual products to blood donors as part of the 2024 Blood Donor Day commemorative 'Let's Donate Blood Together' campaign, distributed June 10–30, 2025.
• Korea Job World (한국잡월드)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2019Korea Job World operates the 'ABO Playground' blood donation experience center at their youth experience center (M-floor, 501 Bundang-suseo-ro, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do). Agreement supports future blood donor education and experiential learning.
• SK Telecom (SK텔레콤)coreTechnology or Integration · 28 January 2019SK Telecom co-developed and donated the next-generation RedConnect smartphone app for blood donation services. Partnership also includes suggestions for preferential treatment of blood donors, and collaborative social value creation activities. Joint technology development of the primary donor-facing digital platform.
• NH Nonghyup Bank (NH농협은행)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 April 2018NH Nonghyup Bank conducts employee group blood donations and collaborates on volunteer service programs, donation culture promotion, and nationwide blood donation awareness campaigns.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreOthersKorean Red Cross Blood Management Headquarters designated as WHO Collaborating Centre for Blood Safety. Re-designated twice consecutively (2022, 2026), confirming alignment with WHO blood safety standards and international best practices in blood management.
• 1,463+ Corporate Life-Sharing Partner OrganizationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFormal partnership agreements with over 1,463 companies, schools, government agencies, and associations for regular blood donation drives (minimum 2 times/year). Includes major corporations such as Samsung (5,000+ participants), Nonghyup, SK, Hyundai, Shinsegae, POSCO, Hanmi Pharma, and many others. Partners receive recognition and social responsibility branding.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Australian Red Cross Lifeblood: Australian Red Cross Lifeblood operates the national blood and plasma collection network across Australia. Same Red Cross affiliation, similar voluntary donor model, and similar product portfolio (whole blood, plasma, platelets) supplied exclusively to domestic hospitals.
• Sanquin Blood Bank: Sanquin is the Dutch national blood bank and a major plasma fractionator (Sanquin Plasma Products). Operates a similar public-interest mandate model in the Netherlands and runs fractionation capacity analogous to the Eumseong Plasma Fractionation Center.
• Japan Red Cross Blood Centers: The Japanese Red Cross operates 7 regional blood centers collecting, testing, and supplying all blood products across Japan under a comparable legal monopoly model. Same Red Cross movement, similar nationwide coverage of an East Asian population, and the most direct geographic and demographic analog to KRCSBS.

Direct peers

• American Red Cross Blood Services: The American Red Cross is the largest single blood collector in the United States, operating a national network of blood centers, donor testing labs, and hospital distribution under a humanitarian mandate analogous to KRCSBS. Same Red Cross movement, similar mandate, similar digital ecosystem (e.g., RapidPass), and similar reliance on voluntary non-remunerated donors.
• NHS Blood and Transplant: NHSBT operates the national blood, plasma, and stem cell supply system for England and Wales. It runs a similar end-to-end value chain (collection, testing, manufacturing, supply to hospitals) under a statutory public mandate, and operates a Plasma Fractionation capability analogous to KRCSBS's Eumseong Center.
• Canadian Blood Services: Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit operator of Canada's blood system outside Quebec, including donor recruitment, testing, manufacturing, and hospital supply. Comparable public-mandate business model, integrated digital platform, and integrated stem cell registry.
• Vitalant: Vitalant is one of the largest U.S. blood center operators, running a nationwide network of donor centers and testing labs serving hospitals across the United States. Comparable donor recruitment, mobile bus collection, and hospital supply model without a Red Cross affiliation.

Broad incumbents

• Grifols: Grifols is a global vertically integrated plasma therapeutics company with its own plasma collection network, fractionation facilities, and diagnostic business. Directly comparable to KRCSBS's plasma fractionation operations and represents the most likely competitive threat if Korea opens plasma collection to private operators.
• CSL Behring: CSL Behring is the world's largest plasma fractionator, producing albumin, immunoglobulins, and coagulation factors from a global network of plasma collection centers. Comparable in the plasma fractionation value chain that KRCSBS runs at its Eumseong Center, but operates as a commercial global incumbent.
• Octapharma: Octapharma is a privately held global plasma-derived therapeutics company producing albumin, IVIG, and clotting factor products. Comparable to the pharmaceutical output of KRCSBS's Eumseong Plasma Fractionation Center and a potential competitor if Korea deregulates plasma sourcing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcxh5nFs-nUuMTUHWzDPONA
• Facebookfacebook.com/bloodinfo
• Instagraminstagram.com/redstoryteller
• Xx.com/redstoryteller
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/korean-red-cross-blood-services

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Korean Red Cross Blood Services