Newsletter

In July 2008, Dokdo, which was listed as a Korean territory on the website of U.S. Board on Geographic Names, was classified as an area without sovereignty. In March 2009, a high school social studies textbook printed on the cover with a map of 'East Sea' as 'Sea of ​​Japan' was distributed and all were retrieved. A month later, KOREA POST distributed a promotional material printed with a map that labeled 'East Sea' as 'Sea of ​​Japan', causing everyone to be angry. As a result of these events, we established an organization to defend Dokdo and registered with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in May 2009.

We sang the national anthem in front of 'Hangungnyeong' on the top of Dokdo.

(*Hangungnyeong, Declaration of Korean Territory Engraved on a Rock Face)

Organize ‘The Dokdo Orchestra’ for the first time in Korea

The terrible days of Japan’s atrocities on Dokdo have continued. The Japanese ambassador to Korea shook the relationship between the two countries with the statement that “Dokdo is Japanese territory”. There have been many tumultuous waves around the Korean Strait. However, We thought that the mission to defend Dokdo and territorial sovereignty was the role of the people of the Republic of Korea. At the moment, the idea of ​​'Dokdo is the territory of the Republic of Korea' through culture came to mind. As we strongly expressed our willingness to love and defend the country, domestic and foreign musicians who care about Dokdo began to gather. So ‘The Dokdo Orchestra’ was established. And we pledged to work on Dokdo and started practicing.

We wanted to start a new movement with music, culture and campaigns. Our goal was to inform both domestic and foreign of the awareness of territorial and sovereign invasion. The orchestra left for Dokdo with musical instruments, equipment and audience chairs. Eventually we couldn't get into the island due to high waves, and we had to play only at the docks. We were sorry, but we were able to inform the domestic and overseas about the process of ‘The 1st Dokdo Concert’ and the exciting scene. A few days later, a phone call came to the office. “I saw an orchestra performance, and it was like watching a scene guarding Dokdo, and I feel really novel and original, and I want to be with you.” In April 2010, the first branch was established at the Incheon Veterans' Hall. After that, we established branches in Gyeonggi, Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, Daejeon, Gangwon, USA, China, Japan, Canada and Vietnam.

「International Writing Competition on Dokdo」 and 「the International Conference of Dokdo reporters」

International Writing Competition on Dokdo

As the number of branches increased, we expanded to include planning team, concert team, choir, Dokdo reporters composed of elementary, middle, high school and college students, parents team, teachers team, overseas Korean team, artists team, and general members. In addition, we have gained great popularity by forming a consensus among the Korean people through ‘the Student Dokdo Reporters’, ‘Demonstration for the Discard of Takeshima Day in Shimane Prefecture, Japan’, ‘Dokdo Concert’, ‘International Writing Competition on Dokdo’, ‘Dokdo Music Festival’, ‘Memorial Day to Celebrate the Edict of Dokdo and Dokdo Cultural Festival’.

Especially, ‘International Writing Competition on Dokdo’ is getting a hot response as a program for youth. The first time started in Seoul and Incheon, and from the third time, it has been expanded to international competition, with 300,000 to 700,000 people participating every year. By the 11th competition in 2020, the cumulative number of participants is about 4 million. The winner of this competition is the Dokdo Reporter and is leading the way in correcting the notation error about Dokdo. Currently, the Ministry of Education and 17 cities and provincial offices of education are officially sponsored, and the participation of Korean schools abroad is increasing. This makes Koreans overseas recognize the existence of Dokdo, the territory of the Republic of Korea. It also provides opportunities to learn Korean as well as various topics related to Dokdo, such as nature, history, and sovereignty. It has become an event to inform Dokdo to the world.

「Memorial Day to Celebrate the Edict of Dokdo」

Memorial Day to Celebrate the Edict of Dokdo and Dokdo Cultural Festival

We hold the ‘Memorial Day to Celebrate the Edict of Dokdo and Dokdo Cultural Festival’ every year at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. This commemorates October 25, 1900, when the Korean Empire Edict 41, which stipulates Dokdo as the jurisdiction of Uldo-gun, was enacted. Emperor Gojong's declaration of the Korean Empire Edict No. 41 was intended to express his willingness to defend Dokdo from Japan's territorial ambitions and to declare that Dokdo is the territory of the Korean Empire. So we have provided a variety of attractions and entertainments, including appointment of honorary ‘sutosa’, celebration performances by the Marine Corps, flash mobs, hip-hop musicals, and experience programs. In particular, the Dokdo Cultural Festival was held in Seoul, the heart of the Republic of Korea, and it is evaluated that it added the depth of Gyeongsangbuk-do's policy on Dokdo.

Protect the territory of the Republic of Korea, Dokdo

We carried out 「the 9th Dokdo Concert」, 「the 11th International Writing Competition on Dokdo」, 「the International Conference of Dokdo reporters」, and 「the 120th Memorial Day to Celebrate the Edict of Dokdo」 with the determination and will that "even if the Covid-19 spreads, we do not stop the activities to protect Dokdo." Among them, 「Dokdo Concert」 had to limit the number of people because there were so many people who wanted to see it. And even when the start of the new semester was postponed and the number of people who could go to school was limited to one-third, 220,000 people took the Writing Competition.

In 2021, the goal is to encourage 1 million students who love the country and Dokdo and have a strong will to unify the two Koreas to participate in the Writing Competition. It is because it is patriotic to establish the right historical consciousness and identity and to engrave the historical value and meaning of Dokdo, and to be proud that Dokdo is the territory of the Republic of Korea. In particular, we try to expand the activities of domestic and foreign Dokdo reporters who have been stagnated due to Covid-19 and to improve their levels. With the ‘Korea at the forefront of the world’ in mind, we will nurture students who are the future leaders as global talents. Please hope that Covid-19 will end and our movement will be lively.