It is not enough to simply assume that it is “obvious” that Dokdo is Korean territory. People around the world must now understand this accurately. This is no longer the era of imperialism and colonialism in which the First and Second World Wars broke out. Everything must be returned and restored. Territories that imperial powers—including Japan—illegally occupied have been restored to their original sovereign states. If Japan were to claim that Hawaii became Japanese territory simply because Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and “took it,” would Americans stay silent?
There are diverse grounds—including clear historical facts—that demonstrate Dokdo is Korean territory. To make that case, it is necessary to know the facts precisely. On the occasion of “Dokdo Day,” I introduce the historical, geographical, and international-law bases for Dokdo being Korean territory, Japan’s distorted assertions, and the rebuttals to those assertions.
Historical Evidence
(“Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam” — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
(The passage in “Dongguk Munheon Bigo” mentioning Dokdo — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Since 512, when General Isabu conquered Usan-guk (Ulleungdo), Dokdo has been recognized as Korean territory. A large number of official Korean documents contain records concerning Dokdo. Works such as “Geography” (Jiriji) in the Sejong Sillok (1454), Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam (1531), Dongguk Munheon Bigo (1770), Mangi Yoram (1808), and Jeungbo Munheon Bigo (1908) all mention Dokdo. This shows that Korea has long recognized and administered Dokdo as its territory.
Geographical Evidence
Dokdo is approximately 87.4 km from Ulleungdo, the nearest Korean island, whereas it is 157.5 km from Japan’s Oki Islands. On clear days, Dokdo is visible from Ulleungdo. Moreover, the Republic of Korea exercises effective control. Geographically, therefore, there is no room for doubt that it is Korean territory.
International-Law Evidence
(SCAPIN No. 677 shows that Dokdo is included in Korean territory — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
In 1900, the Korean Empire publicly proclaimed Korea’s sovereignty over Dokdo internationally by issuing Imperial Edict No. 41, which stated, in effect, that “Dokdo is land belonging to Ulleung County, and therefore Ulleung County governs Ulleungdo and Seokdo (Dokdo).” In addition, in January 1946, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers Instruction (SCAPIN) “Definition of Japan” excluded Dokdo from Japanese territory, and the June 1946 SCAPIN No. 1033 also prohibited Japanese vessels and Japanese nationals from approaching Dokdo or coming within 12 nautical miles of the surrounding waters.
At the time, it was stipulated that any modification of the Allied Powers’ decision would require another directive or proclamation. However, no such directive or agreement followed. Accordingly, under international law as well, the Republic of Korea holds sovereignty over Dokdo. Furthermore, international law recognizes visible land where residents have carried out stable living and economic activities as an appurtenant island, and Dokdo satisfies these conditions as well.
Now, let us examine the three principal reasons Japan claims Dokdo as its territory.
1. “Japan discovered and used Dokdo first, starting in the 1600s.”
(The passage in the “Geography” (Jiriji) of the Sejong Sillok mentioning Dokdo — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Korea’s recognition of Dokdo as its territory predates that claim, as can be seen even from General Isabu’s conquest of Usan-guk in 512 and the Sejong Sillok “Geography” (1454). Moreover, it is not difficult to find Japanese materials that acknowledge Dokdo as Korean territory. Let us look at four representative examples.
“Eunjusi Chonghapgi” is a work written by Saitō Toyonobu, an official of the eastern region of present-day Shimane Prefecture.
(“Eunjusi Chonghapgi” was authored by Saitō Toyonobu, an official in eastern Shimane — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
One of the oldest Japanese documents describing Dokdo, Eunjusi Chonghapgi (隱州視聽合記) (1667), indicates that Japan’s northwestern boundary is the Oki Islands and that Dokdo lies outside Japanese territory.
(A Japanese old map, “Kaisei Nihon Yochi Rotei Zenzu (改正日本輿地路程全圖)” — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Even the Kaisei Nihon Yochi Rotei Zenzu (1779, first edition)—which the Japanese government itself presents as a basis for its claim—shows that Ulleungdo and Dokdo are not Japanese territory.
Additionally, when a diplomatic dispute with Joseon arose in 1693 concerning Ulleungdo, the Edo shogunate sent a document to the Tottori Domain (鳥取藩) on December 24, 1695, asking whether Ulleungdo belonged to Tottori and whether there were any other islands belonging to Tottori. The Tottori Domain responded that Ulleungdo and Dokdo were not Japanese territory.
(The Dajōkan directive (left) and Dokdo drawn on a simplified map of Ulleungdo — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
During the Meiji period, Japan’s Ministry of Home Affairs submitted the question of whether Ulleungdo and Dokdo should be included in a land registry compilation project to the Dajōkan (太政官), Japan’s highest administrative body at the time. In March 1877, the Dajōkan concluded that negotiations between the Edo shogunate and the Joseon government confirmed that Ulleungdo and Dokdo were not Japanese territory, and it issued an instruction to the Ministry of Home Affairs: “With regard to Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and another island (一島: Dokdo), keep in mind that this country (Japan) has nothing to do with them.” This instruction is known as the Dajōkan Directive (태정관 지령).
2. “Dokdo was terra nullius (ownerless land), so Japan’s 1905 cabinet decision to incorporate it was legitimate.”
(Dokdo mentioned in Imperial Edict No. 41 of the Republic of Korea — Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Korea had already proclaimed its sovereignty over Dokdo internationally in 1900 through Imperial Edict No. 41 of the Korean Empire. Moreover, Dokdo had been recognized as Korean territory since 512, when General Isabu conquered Usan-guk, and the various historical documents mentioned above corroborate this.
Some claim that there is no evidence that Dokdo was incorporated into Usan-guk when General Isabu conquered it. However, Dokdo is visible to the naked eye from Ulleungdo, and it is implausible that Dokdo would not have been within Usan-guk’s sphere of life and influence. After Isabu’s conquest, Usan-guk paid local tribute annually to Silla.
A record in the Joseon Wangjo Sillok states that “from Usando they offered several medicinal herbs and also suupi (수우피),” which supports the view that Dokdo was within the living sphere of Usando (Ulleungdo). “Suupi” referred at the time to sea lion or seal skins, and the principal habitat of sea lions and seals was Dokdo.
3. “Because the San Francisco Peace Treaty does not explicitly name Dokdo, Dokdo is not included among the territories Japan renounced.”
The San Francisco Peace Treaty of September 1951, which formally ended World War II, contains a provision stating: “Japan recognizes the independence of Korea, and renounces all right, title and claim to Korea, including the islands of Jeju, Geomun, and Ulleung.” This is an illustrative listing of representative large islands among Korea’s roughly 3,000 islands. Moreover, in light of the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration, and the postwar SCAP directives, the territories separated from Japan as part of Korea must, naturally, be understood to include Dokdo.
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