While most of Penn State was away for spring break, almost 100 people gathered on campus to remember the life of a student who was brutally killed last month.

The parents of Youngcheol Park, 24, however, couldn't attend the service -- they were not issued visas to come to the United States from their hometown of Seoul, South Korea.

Park's uncle, Heungsik Lee, came and spoke at the service Wednesday at Eisenhower Chapel. He came to State College on March 5 and returned to South Korea Thursday with Park's ashes.

Seogchan Kang, a Penn State professor and liaison for Park's family, said his parents were unable to travel to the United States because they had previously stayed here with an expired visa.

Kang said the memorial service was organized in a hurry because his parents wanted to receive their son's ashes as soon as possible.

"After the service, those who attended followed his uncle, who carried [Park's] ashes to a number of places on campus," Kang said.

Kang said after the service, attendees walked to the Hammond Building, where the aerospace engineering program is located, and the Nittany Lion Shrine to accompany Park before his final trip -- home to South Korea.

Park was found dead in Andrew A. Rogers' residence after Rogers walked into the Uniontown Police

Department on Feb. 27 and told police there was a body in his kitchen at 224 Nimitz Ave. in State College.

Rogers, 28, was charged on Feb. 28 with first- and third-degree murder in connection with Park's death.

Park's body was found in Rogers' kitchen several days after he had been beaten with a bottle, baseball bat and rolling pin, the State College Police Department said.

Rogers' preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for Thursday but was continued until April 4.

Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira said he asked for the continuance because evidence of the crime scene is still being processed.

"It wouldn't really make sense to have the preliminary hearing without all of the evidence," he said. "We would just have to have another one after we received all the information."

Although Park's parents were unable to be at the service, Kang said Lee read a letter written by Park's father that expressed the pain and suffering Park's parents have endured since hearing about their son's death.

"You are our hearts' treasure. Your life is more precious than my own. How you must have suffered in your pain," Park's father wrote in a letter read at the service.

"Please forgive me for letting a precious week pass by without knowing. When you didn't return our calls, I thought maybe you were traveling during your spring break, and forgot to recharge your phone ... Your voice, 'Dad, it's me!' is still fresh on my mind. I can almost hear it when I hear my phone ringing these days...

"You must know that farewell has a meaning of reunion. We will meet again in that place of peace. Take good care my beloved son, our pride and joy," the letter concluded.

Kang said people should not remember the violence surrounding Park's death, but rather his heart and generosity.

"I hope that people will remember him as a loving son, a good friend and a generous human being rather than a victim of a violent crime," Kang said. "I believe this is what his parents wish for."