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Meaning of Dokdo for Koreans

Shorinola Tony This writer is a Part-time teacher in Korea.

Firstly I will like to define Dokdo before explaining its effect on Korean. Dokdo is a beautiful island located at East Sea, which is Korean territory, geographically and by international law. But Japanese attempts to seize it by denying historical records.
Dokdo was the first Korean territory to fall victim to the Japanese aggression declared by Minister Pyun Yung tai in Oct. 1954, and from my research its meaning to Korean can be sub-divided into different category with explanation below.

A. Korea's sovereignty is irrefutable.
Korean is adamant in its position that Dokdo is a Korean territory. This fact is irrefutable geographically, historically and internationally.

B. Geographical standpoint.
Dokdo, the easternmost islands of Korea, is 87.4 kilometers southeast of Ulleungdo in the East Sea. According to Sejong sillok jiriji (Geographical Appendix to the Veritable Records of King Sejong, 1454), Usando (Dokdo) and Mureungdo (Ulleungdo) are visible from each other on a clear day. It is natural that the residents in Ulleungdo have long recognized Dokdo as islands belonging to Ulleungdo.

C. Documents prove that old name Usando is current name of Dokdo.
The Silla Kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE) annexed Usanguk, comprising Ulleungdo & Dokdo, in year 512, since when the name, Dokdo, started to appear in official documents. Sejong sillok jiriji (1454), for example, referred to Ulleungdo and Dokdo as Mureungdo and Usando, respectively. Goryeosa (History of Goryeo, 1451), Sinjeung dongguk yeoji seungnam (Revised Edition of the Augmented Survey of the Geography of Korea, 1530), Dongguk munheon bigo (Reference Compilation of Documents of Korea, 1770), Man-gi yoram (Book of Ten Thousand Techniques of Governance, 1808) and many others show that Usando was an old name of Dokdo. They also prove that Usando referred to Dokdo for at least several centuries until the early 20th century.

D. Ulleungdo & Dokdo have nothing to do with Japan: Daijokan.
During the Meiji period (1868-1912), the Daijokan (Grand Council of State) received a note of inquiry from Japan's Ministry of Home Affairs about the compilation of land registers for the Shimane Prefecture. The Daijokan issued in 1877 a directive and stated “Regarding Takeshima (Ulleungdo) & another island (Dokdo), Japan has nothing to do with them.”

E. Korea's Imperial Edict No. 41.
In 1900, under the reign of King Kojong, the Great Han Empire of Korea had issued Imperial Edict No. 41, placing then-Seokdo (Dokdo) under the jurisdiction of Uldo-gun (Ulleungdo). In 1906, Sim Heung-taek, Uldo-gun County Chief, was notified that the eastern islands of Korea had been incorporated into Japan by a survey team from Japan's Shimane Prefecture. Sim right after submitted a report to the Governor of the Gangwon-do (province) in ways to counter the ridiculous and selfcontradictory act.

F. Uijeongbu's Directive No. 3.
In 1906, the Uijeongbu (The Great Han Empire’s State Council) issued Directive No. 3, arguing that Japan's incorporating of Dokdo is groundless. It instructed a re-examination of the incorporation.

G. Japan's invasion goes against the international law.
In the midst of Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), which had been triggered by Japan's imperialistic invasion scheme since the 1890s, Japan incorporated Dokdo into the Shimane Prefecture by issuing the Shimane Prefecture Public Notice No.40. The incorporation constituted a violation of international law and could not be justified under any circumstances because it was a clear infringement on the indisputable sovereignty of Korea over the islands from ancient times to the Great Han Empire.

H. Cairo Declaration after WWII.
Korea was occupied to Japan in 1910 and the colonial rule ended in 1945 with Japan's defeat in World War II. In 1943, the U.S., Britain and China issued the Cairo Declaration, vowing that Japan would "...be expelled from all other territories which she has taken by violence and greed." In 1945, when Korea regained its independence, Dokdo was returned to Korea. Dokdo’s exclusion from Japan's territory was reaffirmed in the San Francisco Treaty signed in 1951. In the years following Korea’s liberation and to this day, Dokdo has been under the effective control and jurisdiction of Korea.

I. Firm and resolute stance of the Korean Government.
Korean government's position is steady that Dokdo has inherently been Korean territory. It does not regard the Dokdo issue as a matter to be dealt with through diplomatic negotiations or judicial settlement. It will deal firmly and resolutely with any claims denying Korean sovereignty over the islands.

In conclusion, along with historical backgrounds and few personal points, I have been able to explain the meaning of Dokdo to Koreans. I have no doubt in my mind that Dokdo legally belongs to Korean territory and not a subject of territorial dispute between Korean and Japan.