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The meaning of Dokdo for Koreans

Magdalena Antkowiak This writer is Polish - currently an exchange student at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul Ungnam Middle School in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.

Dokdo, a small group of islets off the east coast of South Korea; almost everything about them is controversial. Koreans call them okdo, and the surrounding waters the East Sea; whereas the Japanese use the name Takeshima and the Sea of Japan, respectively.

The islets are symbolic to both Korea and Japan. But it is not just about national pride and the land itself. The waters surrounding the basically uninhabited islets are rich fishing grounds, and they are also believed to hold natural gas reserves. They're potentially big enough bone of contention in the diplomatic ties between two neighboring countries.

It is not surprising that due to Japan's wartime atrocities against South Koreans, Japan-Korea relations are tense and the animosity remains. The legacy crawling out of unresolved anger over Japanese colonization of Korea might be a key to open the Pandora's Box that Japan sealed decades ago. Any attempts made by the Japanese government to establish sovereignty over Dokdo are groundless. They not only remind Ko-reans of invasion and aggression, but also challenge the independence of Korea. It is no wonder that the Japanese claim to Dokdo revives bitter memories among Koreans, especially considering the fact that Japan has never sincerely apologized for past injustices and wrongdoings. For this reason, Dokdo is also an island of great historical significance, an island that was finally returned to Korea after the Japanese imperialism that devastated the Korean people and their land.

Dokdo being an integral part of the Korean territory is a fact that has been fully established by the historical records of both Korea and Japan. From a historical perspective, Dokdo belonged to "Usanguk" during the Three Kingdoms Period and was referred to as "Usando" during the Joseon Dynasty. References to Usando are found in several treatises dated back to the Joseon Kingdom which are supported by maps indicating its precise location. A collection of reports and official documents published by the Japanese government, among others "Takeshima Incident" of 1696 and "A Confidential Inquiry into the Particulars of Korean Diplomacy" of 1870, officially acknowledged that Dokdo was not Japanese territory.

The territorial dispute around Dokdo and territorial borders of both Japan and South Korea dates back to 1905, when Japan incorporated Dokdo into Shimane Prefecture claiming that the island was "terra nullius", a land belonging to no one. It was a Japan's strategy to win the Russo-Japanese War, and also an initial step to colonize the entire Korean Peninsula in 1910. The incorporation of Dokdo was an unlawful effort made by Japan to usurp Korean territory. Unfortunately at that time Korea was already a Japanese protectorate and could not file any diplomatic protest. Nevertheless the evidence undeniably indicates that Dokdo has never been an unoccupied land, Japan's annexation of the island is for that reason inadmissible and void under the international law.

Apart from the period when the Joseon Kingdom forcibly annexed to Japan between 1910-1945, Dokdo had been under the control of succeeding Korean governments. After Korea's liberation from Japanese occupation in 1945 and following Japan's defeat in World War II, the Agreement respecting the Disposition of Former Japanese Territories was made in 1950, which clearly and precisely stated that Dokdo was to be returned to Korea. At that time neither Allied Powers nor Japan protested to declare Korea as the rightful holder of the title to the island.

In the light of historical facts, Dokdo is an integral part of Korean territory beyond any doubt. Korea's rights over islets may become even more evident over time as Korea hands down more and more official documents, maps and legal evidences against baseless Japanese claims.

However, we cannot perceive the long-standing territorial dispute over Dokdo only as a regional struggle, but as an issue on an

As Dokdo symbolizes independence and restoration of Korean history and national identity, we must not stop our efforts to pursue the truth of Dokdo - the beautiful island of Korea.