Dokdo – Then and Now

o Author

JUNG Hai-ung, YOO Mi-rim, HYUN Dae-song, KOO Heejin

o Price

15,000 KRW

o Publication Date

November 25, 2024

o ISBN

   979-11-7161-141-6

Author

JUNG Hai-ung

Doctor of Management Sciences, University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne; PhD in International Law, University of Edinburgh; Doctor of Law, University of Paris XI.

YOO Mi-rim

PhD in Political Science, Ewha Womans University. She currently serves as the Director of the Korea-Asia Cultural Institute. Her books include Dokdo and Ulleungdo in History and others.

HYUN Dae-song

Dr. of Law, Tokyo University. His books include The birth of Territorial Nationalism-The politics of Dokdo and Takeshima (in Japanese) and others.

KOO Heejin

Research Fellow at Korean Peninsula Future Forum and senior editor at KBS World Radio News. She formerly served as foreign correspondent for Bloomberg News and Reuters.

Book Introduction

This book is an English-language publication designed to help foreign readers gain an accessible and comprehensive understanding of Dokdo. Its content is broadly organized into three main sections: the current status of Dokdo, the island’s presence in historical records, and relevant principles of international law concerning territorial issues.

As it is written with a foreign audience in mind, the book objectively presents well-analyzed and verified historical events and sources. In the section on international law, it introduces legal principles relevant to the sovereignty over Dokdo, focusing on legal reasoning drawn from international case law.

Unlike previous English publications on Dokdo, which have often been either overly specialized or heavily centered on promoting Korea’s territorial claims, Dokdo – Then and Now aims to offer a clear and balanced overview of the issue. By doing so, it is expected to serve as a helpful guide in calmly and effectively introducing Korea’s beautiful island, Dokdo, to the international community.

Contents

Part I Overview of Dokdo

Chapter 1: The Natural Environment of Dokdo

1. The Location of Dokdo

2. The Size of Dokdo

3. The Topographical and Geological Features of Dokdo

4. The Climate of Dokdo

5. Dokdo’s Ecosystems

Chapter 2: The Social Environment and Administration of Dokdo

1. The Population of Dokdo

2. Visitors to Dokdo

3. The Government Authorities Responsible for the Conservation and Management of Dokdo

4. The Laws for the Conservation and Management of Dokdo

5.The Facilities on Dokdo

Part II Dokdo in History

Chapter 1: A Tale of Two Islands: Ulleungdo and Dokdo

1. The Historical Names Used for Ulleungdo and Dokdo in Korea

2. The Historical Names Used for Ulleungdo and Dokdo in Japan

3. The Names Used for Ulleungdo and Dokdo in the West

Chapter 2: Korea’s Long-standing Sovereignty over Ulleungdo and Dokdo

1. The Kingdom of Silla Subjugates the State of Usan.

2. The Goryeo Dynasty Incorporates Ulleungdo and Dokdo into Its Local Administrative System.

3. The Joseon Dynasty Exercises Sovereignty over Ulleungdo and Dokdo.

4. The Empire of Korea Reinforces the Exercise of Its Sovereignty over Ulleungdo and Dokdo.

Chapter 3: Japan’s Recognition of Korean Sovereignty over Ulleungdo and Dokdo

1. The First Official Japanese Document that Refers to Dokdo

2. The “Takeshima Affair” and the Ban on Passage to Takeshima of 1696

3. The Enforcement of the Ban on Passage to Takeshima

4. The Ban on Sailing to Takeshima and Distant Seas of 1837

5. The Confidential Inquiry into the Particulars of the Relations with the State of Joseon

6. The Dajokan Order of 1877

7. The Ban on Japanese Voyages to Ulleungdo of 1883

Chapter 4: Ulleungdo and Dokdo on Historical Maps

1. Ulleungdo and Dokdo on Korea’s Historical Maps

2. Ulleungdo and Dokdo on Japan’s Historical Maps

Part III The Illegal Incorporation of Dokdo into Japanese Territory

Chapter 1: The Historical Background of the Illegal Incorporation of Dokdo into Japan

1. Korea Falls Prey to Imperialist Powers

2. Japan’s Expansionary Policy and Aggression against Korea

Chapter 2: The Process of the Illegal Incorporation of Dokdo into Japan

1. A Businessman’s Petition for the Territorial Incorporation of Dokdo

2. The Japanese Government’s Steps to Incorporate Dokdo into Japan

Chapter 3: Korea’s Response to the Incorporation of Dokdo into Japan

1. Japan’s Accelerated Process of Aggression against Korea

2. The Response of the Empire of Korea to the Incorporation of Dokdo into Japan

Chapter 4: Japan’s Forcible Occupation of the Entire Korea and the Liberation of Korea

Part IV The ROK’s Resumption of the Exercise of Sovereignty over Dokdo

Chapter 1: The Allied Powers’ Wartime Agreements and Postwar Control over Japan

1. The Allied Powers’ Wartime Agreements

2. The Allied Powers’ Postwar Control over Japan

Chapter 2: Korea’s Resumption of the Exercise of Its Sovereignty over Dokdo

1. The Establishment of the Republic of Korea

2. The Administration of Dokdo after Korea’s Liberation

Chapter 3: The Normalization of Korea-Japan Relations and the Dokdo Issue Thereafter

Part V Dokdo and International Law

Chapter 1: Historic Title

1. International Law Concerning Historic Titles

2. Korea’s Historic Title to Dokdo

Chapter 2: Japan’s Illegal Incorporation of Dokdo into Japan in 1905

1. The Concept and International Practice of Occupation of Terra Nullius

2. Japan’s Unlawful Measures to Incorporate Dokdo into Its Territory

3. The Absurdity of Japan’s Claim that the Cabinet Decision of 1905 Was a Measure to Reaffirm Japan’s Existing Sovereignty

4. Japan’s Self-contradictory Theories

Chapter 3: The Interpretation of the Treaty of Peace with Japan

1. The Rules of International Law Governing the Interpretation of Treaties

2. The Question of Interpreting Article 2(a) of the Treaty of Peace with Japan

Chapter 4: Evidentiary Value of Historical Maps

1. International Jurisprudence Concerning Evaluation of the Evidentiary Value of Maps

2. The Territorial Perceptions Represented on the Historical Maps of Korean and Japanese Origins

Epilogue

Dokdo Timeline

List of Historical Documents

List of Historical Maps