뉴스레터

Is Ieodo an Island?

Ieodo is a submerged rock, about 80 nautical miles (149 kilometers) south-southwest of Marado, south of Jeju. Since it does not fall into the category of such an island or rock as provided for under Article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Ieodo is not entitled to the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), or the continental shelf. In addition, Article 60, Paragraph 8, of the UNCLOS provides that "Artificial islands, installations and structures do not possess the status of islands. They have no territorial sea of their own, and their presence does not affect the delimitation of the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf." Therefore, the Ocean Research Station on Ieodo will not be taken into consideration in future negotiations to determine the delimitation of the EEZ or the continental shelf between Korea and China,

KADIZ, JADIZ, and CADIZ,
and the location of Ieodo

Ieodo, also known as Parangdo, is referred to in English-speaking countries as 'Socotra Rock', after the British merchant ship Socotra, the discoverer of this rock. In China, it is referred to as Su Yan Jiao (蘇岩噍).

The Ocean Research Station built on the submerged rock of Ieodo was completed in June 2003, and Korea has used it since for a variety of ocean and weather observations. Located in the path of typhoons, this station is particularly useful for typhoon watch and observation. To ensure safety of navigation, a safety zone has been established, not exceeding a distance of 500 meters around the Ocean Research Station on Ieodo (Article 60 (5) of the UNCLOS).

Controversies Surrounding Jurisdiction and Overlapping ADIZs

China is asserting jurisdiction over the waters around Ieodo, claiming that they are part of the continental shelf as a natural extension of its own land. On the other hand, Korea believes that Ieodo is obviously included in the EEZ and the continental shelf under its own jurisdiction in accordance with the 'median line principle' of maritime boundary demarcation. China's argument about the principle of natural extension of land will be considered weak in logic in light of recent international decisions in which the three-stage methodology (1) provisional equidistance line; 2) relevant circumstances; and 3) proportionality analysis) has been well established.

On November 23, 2013, China established the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, placing Ieodo in an area within the Zone also overlapping with both the KADIZ and the JADIZ and making the rock a subject of potential dispute among the three countries.

By signing a fishery agreement, which took effect on June 30, 2001, Korea and China designated a Provisional Waters Zone (PMZ) in which fishery operations by both countries would be allowed, considering that the delimitation of the EEZ between the two countries was yet to be established, But since Ieodo is located in the high seas beyond this PMZ or the EEZ of Korea, fishery operations in these waters are free and unrestricted. That's why these waters, which used to be the livelihood of Jeju fishermen, are now full of Chinese fishing vessels.