A memorial service has been held for a South Korean student and a Japanese man 24 years after they died trying to rescue a stranger who fell onto the tracks at a train station in Tokyo.

The 26-year-old student, Lee Su-hyon, and Japanese photographer Sekine Shiro jumped from the platform to save the man at JR Shin-Okubo Station on January 26, 2001. All three were hit by a train and killed.

On Sunday, Lee's mother Shin Yoon-chan visited the station along with South Korean Ambassador to Japan Park Cheol-hee, among others. They laid flowers at a plaque praising the brave action and observed a moment of silence.

Shin told about 150 participants that she is encouraged by the thought of her being any help for friendly relations between South Korea and Japan, as her son wanted to achieve that with people he had met.

Lee's parents launched a fund with condolence money to help students study in Japan, as their son had hoped to become a bridge between the two countries.

The fund has so far provided scholarships to 1,236 students from 19 countries and territories.