Award Winning Works of 5th Int'l Essay Contest on Dokdo Bronze Prize

'Matter of national sovereignty'

Bronze Prize Saurav Ghimire This writer is a student studying pharmacy at Inje University in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province.

Two treeless volcanic outcropping islets, grouping at the centre of a diplomatic dispute between South Korea and Japan occupying the area of 0.18 square meters are in East Sea located 87.4 km from Korea's Ulleung Island and 158 km from Japanese Oki Island.

The islets are commonly known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima by Japan.

Dokdo remains a point of heated contention of Korea-Japan disputes.
There are strong historical evidences and records which prove these islands have been officially incorporated in the Korean history since sixth century.

Surveying the socio-political history of Japan and South Korea, several issues have been under the debate and discussion.

The latest dispute is about the islets, the integral territory of South Korea, which Japan claims to be its own without any strong evidences.

Dokdo has been a part of sovereign territory of South Korea except for the territorial occupation during the period of Japanese colonization over Korea.

Perhaps Japan may be eyeing on Dokdo because it is believed to be rich in fisheries and other natural resources possibly rich in natural gases. It has various fishes, seaweeds and other marine creatures.

Besides that, it can be one of the largest breeding area for sea lions and good spots for hiking.

Further, the water surrounding the islets supplies the fishing industries.
The water can also be used for the military defense purpose and make the issue more political.

Korea has long recognized the existence of Dokdo as it is confirmed by the variety of written documents and maps including the most representative cartographic work of South Korea completed with longitudinal and latitudinal lines.

It's recorded in Korean text such as "Samguksagi": 1145; Saejong Sillok Jirji, appendix of King Saejong of South Korea.

Furthermore many Korean artifacts show the existence of Koreans in Dokdo since early period.

Although Dokdo is claimed by Japanese, there is no any evidence of existence of Dokdo in Japanese history before 19th century.

It's supposed that only few Japanese fishermen used to be here with Koreans for fishing purpose.

After occupation over Korea for about 35 years, Japanese don't to return it although the island doesn't belong to them legally.

Third, Korea used its sovereignty in Dokdo as a stopover part on a route and also a shipping ground since 8th century although Japan started showing its power since 19th century.

It was naturally used by Korean for fishing ground and catching abalones and sea lions.

Looking into the written evidences, voyage by An Yong-bok's activity shows that it's Korean territory.

The official records are the credible sources of evidences, and international society is also an eye witness of sovereignty of Dokdo, and Japan has no any right over the independent country's segment.

After the treaty between these nations the initial report by the U.S., a drafting process of peace treaty, shows that Dokdo is the Korean territory under the jurisdiction of Korea.

Another evidence, showing that the Korean protest led by American Air Forces to immediately exclude Dokdo from its bombing range and to send Korean government an official notification of action, also shows that it is a Korean property in all the senses.

Additionally, Dokdo is located within the Korean Air defense identification which reconfirms that it's a Korean property.