I have grown not only singing the song, "Dokdo Is Our Land" but also hearing the slip of the tongue, "Dakesima is the Japanese land."(Dakesima is the Japanese method of expression of Dokdo.) This statement is always being said every year, now we respond like "again?!" with annoyance. However, if someone would ask you that "Why is Dokdo Korean land?", are you sure to make yourself clear?
Dokdo is Korean territory, which is attested by history. Dokdo belonged to "Usanguk" during the Three Kingdom Period, and was referred to as "Usando" during the Joseon Dynasy, when the island was also known as 'Jasando', 'Gajido' or 'Sambongdo.' The 17th century, Ahn Yong-bok insisted that Dokdo was Joseon's territory against the fact that Japan captured the fishing people who were in Dokdo. And Imperial Ordinance No.41, issued in 1900 by the imperial government of Korea, the Great Han Empire, placed Dokdo under the jurisdiction of the Ulleungdo County office. After the era of the colony, once the Republic of Korea was founded in 1948, it inherited jurisdiction over Dokdo from the Us Army Military Government and placed it under Gyeongsangbukdo Province. At that time, neither Allied Powers nor Japan demur to this jurisdiction over Dokdo, and this attested our dominium of Dokdo.
When I saw the far-fetched interpretation of Japan, I was at a loss for words. Because they denied their history which attested that Dokdo is Korean territory. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the Japanese government officially recognized Korean sovereignty over Dokdo by issuing the documents that one was the Chosenkoku Kosaishimatsu Naitansho of 1870 and the other was issued by the Japanese Council of state in 1877. Even, in 1904, they asked for the loan of Dokdo for monopolizing fishing sea lions. These events demonstrated that Japan recognized Dokdo was Korean territory.
However, as using their vantage ground, Japan incorporated Dokdo into their land. The Dynasty of Joseon knew the fact but they couldn't take any measures because Joseon was a colony of Japan and was deprived of their right of diplomacy. The San Francisco Peace Treaty set it down in the draft, from 1st to 5th, that Dokdo is the Korean territory but it is dispersed by the Japanese government's strong lobbyism and weak diplomacy of Korean government, a nascent public, so that Dokdo was not included in renunciation of territory in Japan after the war. But the claim that Dokdo is Japanese territory through the event, it is the arbitrary interpretation.
Currently, Japan insisted that the Republic of Korea occupied Dokdo with army and should solve the problem according to the international law. However, there are lots of historic documents proves that Dokdo is a Korean territory. We can't find any evidence and rationality about Japanese claim, which is not the object of international adjudication. Nevertheless, Japan is always insisting Dokdo is their territory. They advertised it to the citizens that if they got the dominium of Dakesima, they would get lots of advantages. Also they made the day of Dakesima, straightened publicity activities with so many efforts.
Of course, Korea is not just watching this situation. Many NGOs like VANK and government made publicity pamphlet, had a publicity activities, and so on. It would be done that additional efforts as teaching the subject related to Dokdo, making the book about Dokdo, and setting questions about Dokdo in Korean history test in next year. However, not only the government and NGOs but also citizens should participate in these activities. You don't have to set the world on fire. Accurate recognition of our history and patriotism is enough, and that is the best way that we can do.
Written by Yoon Jeongwon
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