NORTHEAST ASIAN HISTORY FOUNDATION 09/2022
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Sim Hyeong-yeop, Teacher at Yeungnam High School
When the Northeast Asian History Foundation decided to send the guidance teacher for the 2022 Dokdo Keeper School to Ulleungdo and Dokdo islands, my heart fluttered, imagining the trip to the islands.
I repeatedly searched how high the waves around Ulleungdo and Dokdo islands were and the weather until the departure date. When you take a boat, you should eat only half of what you usually would have in the morning before boarding, and you need music that you can immerse yourself in along with the motion sickness medicine when you are struggling with seasickness. It takes 3 hours and 40 minutes from Pohang to Ulleungdo Island, 1 hour 40 minutes from there to Dokdo Island, so more than 10 hours back and forth on a boat. You need to get familiar with the boat for a successful visit.
Korea’s First Territorial Museum, a Must-go Place in Ulleungdo Island - ‘Dokdo Museum’
The Dokdo Museum is well-organized, with historical evidence that Dokdo is Korean territory, along with old maps and video materials. However, it was disappointing that there was no commentator to give detailed explanations about the old maps and historical materials. As in the case of national museums abroad, I thought it would be great to record the explanations of the commentator in advance for important old maps and historical materials so that visitors can listen to the explanations when they come to the exhibits. I think visiting the museum with students and learning about the historical evidence proving Dokdo is a territory of the Republic of Korea before visiting Dokdo would double the educational effect of visiting Dokdo.
We also visited the Dokdo Volunteer Forces Memorial Hall, erected in Buk-myeon, Ulleungdo Island, by the Dokdo Volunteer Forces Memorial Project. You can learn about the Great Battle of Dokdo (1954) and 33 members of the Dokdo Volunteer Forces through the video archives and exhibits. During the Great Battle of Dokdo, the Dokdo Volunteer Forces defeated the Japanese patrol ship Hekura several times, preventing Japan from landing on Dokdo Island without permission. I was very impressed by the actions of the Dokdo Volunteer Forces led by Captain Hong Soon-chil, who protected Dokdo Island. If you go outside after viewing the second floor, there is an observatory where you can see Dokdo Island from the shortest distance. We could not go to the second floor due to safety reasons since the sea fog was very thick on the day of our visit. Still, I strongly recommend teachers go to Dokdo Island with students to visit the hall on the way.
Taking the First Step to Dokdo Island
I still can't forget the intense aspiration, 'Our territory that we must protect,' rising up from inside as if I had known the island for a very long time when I saw the two towering isles in the open sea for the first time. I heard that if the swelling wind wave is over 1m tall, you can't come along the pier, and you can enter the island only about 60 days out of a year. It rained that day, but fortunately, the waves were not high, and we were able to dock safely. Clouds covered the upper part of Seodo Island (Western Island of Dokdo), and the Samhyeongje Bawi (Three Brothers Rock) Cave and Chotdae Bawi (Candle Rock) created a superb view against the waves. After taking a quick photo, the teachers engraved Dokdo Island into their hearts by going around Dongdo (Eastern Island of Dokdo) and Seodo Islands and looking at each other.
My Class, ‘Dokdo Island’
As I explored Dokdo Island and engaged in the Dokdo Keeper School activities, my perspective on Dokdo Island changed. We must ensure that educational activities related to Dokdo Island are carried out concerning students’ interests and careers through school classes, in-school contests, external contests, club activities, extracurricular education, campaign activities, and exhibitions in connection with Kyungpook National University Ulleungdo Dokdo Institute, Yeungnam University Dokdo Institute, and Dokdo Experience Center, which are striving to teach students about ‘Dokdo Island’ to share the experiences of achievement with them.
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- Northeast Asia History Network
- Northeast Asia History Library
- DOKDO Research Institute
- DOKDO Museum Seoul
- Education and Training
