A young Korean man touched the hearts of every Japanese in January 2001.
Lee Soo-Hyun sacrificed his life while trying to save an inebriated man who fell under the subway tracks in Tokyo that year.
In order to pay tribute to Lee’s death, then Japanese Prime Minister Yoshirō Mori presented a wooden chalice which the Japanese government offers to those who make contributions to the country. In 2007, Korea and Japan jointly produced a movie, “26 Years Diary,” based on the story of Lee’s life.
More than ten years have passed since his death. However, Lee’s sacrifice has been praised as an act that plays a, “bridging role between Korea and Japan.” High-profile government officials of both countries, including President Park Geun-hye and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, commemorate his death every year.
In honor of his son, the father, Lee Seong-dae, established a scholarship association named after his son -- the LSH Asia Scholarship Society -- in Japan in 2002. Since then, the LSH Asia Scholarship Society has supported 639 students from 18 Asian countries studying in Japan. Lee has also devoted himself to promoting exchanges and friendship between Korea and Japan. When the massive earthquake and tsunami hit the northeastern coast of Japan in 2011, he even donated his private fortune worth some KRW 10 million.
The Japanese government recently decided to award him with a medal as a token of appreciation, highly-valuing his contributions.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Busan said on June 15 that Lee will receive the Rising Sun Medal at their offices on June 16.
The Japanese consulate-general said that, “The Japanese government offers this medal to non-Japanese who make an effort to improve relations between their home countries and Japan and cultural exchanges between both countries. We present this medal to Lee Seong-dae, president of the LSH Asia Scholarship Society, as he has greatly contributed to boosting friendship and understanding between Japan and Korea since the death of his son.”
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: Yonhap News
arete@korea.kr
Lee Soo-Hyun sacrificed his life while trying to save an inebriated man who fell under the subway tracks in Tokyo that year.
In order to pay tribute to Lee’s death, then Japanese Prime Minister Yoshirō Mori presented a wooden chalice which the Japanese government offers to those who make contributions to the country. In 2007, Korea and Japan jointly produced a movie, “26 Years Diary,” based on the story of Lee’s life.
The parents of Lee Soo-Hyun (left) pay silent tribute, marking the 13th anniversary of the death of their son after laying a wreath at Shin-Ōkubo Station in Tokyo in January 2014. Their son lost his life while trying to save a man who fell from the platform.
A representative of the Korean Embassy in Tokyo reads a message from President Park Geun-hye during a scholarship award ceremony at the Lee Soo-Hyun Scholarship Society in Tokyo in October 2013.
A representative of the Japanese government reads a message from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a scholarship award ceremony at the Lee Soo-Hyun Scholarship Society in Tokyo in October 2013.
A memorial ceremony marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Lee Soo-Hyun in Japan in 2010.
More than ten years have passed since his death. However, Lee’s sacrifice has been praised as an act that plays a, “bridging role between Korea and Japan.” High-profile government officials of both countries, including President Park Geun-hye and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, commemorate his death every year.
In honor of his son, the father, Lee Seong-dae, established a scholarship association named after his son -- the LSH Asia Scholarship Society -- in Japan in 2002. Since then, the LSH Asia Scholarship Society has supported 639 students from 18 Asian countries studying in Japan. Lee has also devoted himself to promoting exchanges and friendship between Korea and Japan. When the massive earthquake and tsunami hit the northeastern coast of Japan in 2011, he even donated his private fortune worth some KRW 10 million.
The Japanese government recently decided to award him with a medal as a token of appreciation, highly-valuing his contributions.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Busan said on June 15 that Lee will receive the Rising Sun Medal at their offices on June 16.
The Japanese consulate-general said that, “The Japanese government offers this medal to non-Japanese who make an effort to improve relations between their home countries and Japan and cultural exchanges between both countries. We present this medal to Lee Seong-dae, president of the LSH Asia Scholarship Society, as he has greatly contributed to boosting friendship and understanding between Japan and Korea since the death of his son.”
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photo: Yonhap News
arete@korea.kr
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