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Enhancing competence for research on Dokdo through exchanges with global experts

The International Precedent Studies Association held its 7th presentation meeting at the conference hall of the Northeast Asian History Foundation on July 23 where KIM Du-young, assistant director general of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), gave a presentation entitled "International Maritime Law and Islands Matter." The forum started at 10 a.m. where presentations lasted nearly half an hour and researchers from the Dokdo Research Institute engaged in heated debates for almost two hours.

The forum specifically examined international legal proceedings conducted at the ITLOS and the International Court of Justice, and presented a specific analysis of current discussions about cases associated with "Maritime Boundary Issues and Ilands Disputes." And the following Q & A session and debates explored ways to seek a peaceful resolution to inter-state conflicts in Northeast Asia to acquire peace in the region.

The International Precedent Studies Association launched by the Dokdo Research Institute this year was aimed at enhancing researchers' competence and establishing infrastructure of human resources related with Dokdo through meetings between the institute's researchers and relevant specialists.

In fact, basic knowledge about pending issues concerning Dokdo and academic exchanges and cooperation among relevant human resources are required for researchers of various majors to conduct studies on Dokdo and develop research projects. Besides, as the previous operational experience showed, seminars and other academic events at home and abroad didn't give researchers enough time to share information and ideas among themselves. Therefore, it was very effective in many aspects to run the forum as a small study group.

Running the forum as a study group with intensive information exchange

So far, the International Precedent Studies Association has held nine meetings and there will be four or five meetings within this year. According to a comprehensive evaluation of presentation topics dealt with so far, the research area of the international law and history centered on the modern age. The key to resolving the pending issues associated with Dokdo lies in consolidating South Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo by emphasizing that the island is Korea's own territory and strengthening the nation's practical sovereignty over the island. Thus, the Association has tried to maintain an academic research direction encompassing history and law, and truth and justice. I hope there will be widespread participation by Dokdo experts and more active exchanges and cooperation among researchers in the future.

The International Precedent Studies Association has provided around 10 researchers of the Dokdo Research Institute with social learning close to "retraining" twice a month. But in the future, I wish there will be active participation not only by the institute's researchers but also people from other departments.

Finally, the International Precedent Studies Association will invite professionals in humanities and sociology, and various kinds of Dokdo-related policy makers as well as scholars in international law and history to its future presentation meetings.