A funeral service for researcher Jeon Jae-gyu, who drowned in a boat accident near the Sejong Scientific Researcher Center in Antarctica, was held at the Korea Marine Research Center in Ansan, Kyunggi Province Tuesday morning.

Some 600 mourners, including bereaved family members, fellow researchers and lawmakers, attended the funeral service.

The Dean of the research center, Byun Sang-gyung, eulogized the late researcher as having demonstrated true sacrifice in a modern society whose most salient characteristics are a dearth of affection and human dignity.

He also called Jeon a beaon of light to all scientific researchers and aspirants in this country.

Jeon's body has been temporarily enshrined at Jung Won-temple, Chungju City, North Chungcheong Province, and will later be moved to the National Cemetery in Daejon, pending the approval of a petition to inter him there.