Who was Lee Su-hyun?

Lee Su-hyun was a 26-year-old Korean student who had taken leave from Korea University's trade studies program to study in Japan in 2000. On the evening of January 26, 2001, he jumped onto the tracks at JR Shin-Okubo Station in Tokyo to help a Japanese man who had fallen. Three people died in the incident: Lee, a man named Sekine, and the man he tried to save.

The case drew wide attention in Japan. According to reports, the Asahi Shimbun ran it as a front-page story, and then-Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori attended the funeral.

What is the LSH Asia Scholarship Foundation?

Lee's mother, Shin Yun-chan, now 75, serves as honorary chairwoman of the LSH Asia Scholarship Foundation, established in 2002 in her son's name. It supports Asian students learning Japanese and reports more than 1,200 cumulative beneficiaries. Shin says the foundation does not hold a large endowment. Instead, it gives out each year's donations from Japanese supporters in full.

How have donors stayed involved?

Shin said the scholarship has never been suspended, including during periods of tense Korea-Japan relations and the COVID-19 outbreak. She said she sends thank-you cards to donors, about 300 in one year and about 200 last year.

For international fans

Lee's story is often cited in Korea and Japan as an example of cross-border goodwill. Separately, the Busan Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange Association started the 'Beautiful Youth Lee Su-hyun Meeting' in 2010, which brings together Korean university students and Japanese exchange students each year. Yonhap News Agency is also holding a '2026 Future Economy Forum' on Korea-Japan cooperation on November 3.