A memorial event has been held for a South Korean student and a Japanese man who died trying to rescue a stranger who had fallen onto tracks at a station in Tokyo in 2001.

Friday marks 23 years since their death at JR Shin-Okubo Station. The 26-year-old student Lee Su-hyon and Japanese photographer Sekine Shiro jumped from the platform to try to save the man. They were all hit by a train and died.

Participants at the event included Lee's mother and South Korean Ambassador to Japan Yun Duk-min. They laid flowers at a memorial plaque and observed a minute of silence at the platform where the three died.

Lee's mother mentioned a visit to the station by a group of South Korean high school students who are learning Japanese under a program set up in memory of her son.
She said her son's wish to become a bridge between South Korea and Japan has been passed on to young people, and that she expects a bright future.

South Korean actor Lee Tae-sung, who played the lead in a film loosely based on the life of the late student, gave a speech in Japanese.

He said he will do his best as an actor to help the two countries become closer.