The Shinjuku Korean Merchant Association reported that on the 26th, it held the '24th anniversary memorial service and cultural festival for the heroic late Lee Soo-hyun' at Shin-Okubo Station in Tokyo, Japan, and at the 'K-Stage 0! Square Building.'
Lee Soo-hyun, who was studying abroad in Japan, died after being hit by a train on January 26, 2001, while trying to save a Japanese person who had fallen onto the tracks at JR Shin-Okubo Station.
Even as a foreigner, Lee sacrificed his life for others and later became a symbolic figure for friendship and peace between South Korea and Japan. In particular, the news that 'a foreigner risked their life to save others' resonated deeply in Japan, a country with strong individualistic tendencies.
Ambassador Park Cheol-hee noted in his eulogy, 'The noble spirit of sacrifice and courageous action of the deceased awakened the meaning and importance of friendship and cooperation that transcends borders in the hearts of the people of South Korea and Japan.'
He continued, 'We are stepping closer to the world that the 26-year-old young man who wanted to be a bridge between South Korea and Japan dreamed of.' He emphasized, 'This year, marking the 60th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan, we must unite our efforts so that dream can flourish.'
The noble spirit of sacrifice exhibited by Lee was remembered once again through the 2007 film 'Bridge' (Japanese title: Kakehashi). The screening held on January 26, the anniversary of his passing, drew significant attention from Japanese society, with former Emperor Akihito and his wife in attendance.
Meanwhile, the 'LSH Asia Scholarship Foundation,' established in 2002 in honor of the heroic Lee Soo-hyun, supports 50 Asian international students each year. Over the past two decades, approximately 1,200 scholarship recipients have been nurtured.