Award Winning Works of 4th Int’l Essay Contest on Dokdo Prize

Ten truths about Dokdo not known in Japan:
Korea, Korean Culture and a beautiful Dokdo!

Qiao Guangyu Qiao Guangyu is a master’s degree candidate in International Politics at the school of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University in Shanghai. She is a Chinese citizen from Shangdong Province and has lived in China her whole life. Her research interests include environmental politics, international organizations, and Asian studies.

Not withstanding the controversy and disputes surrounding the sovereignty of Dokdo, unknown to the public in Japan, is the significance of Dokdo to the Korean people. For the rest of the world, Dokdo is just a group of isolated, rocky islets that hold little significance. Yet, for Koreans, Dokdo represents more than just a cluster of rocks. Dokdo represents modern Korea, Korean culture and the Korea of the future.

Korea may be a geographically small country in global terms, but it is an extremely proud one. Having experienced occupation at the hands of the Japanese, some of the most destructive wars in human history, the division of the peninsula, and numerous political and economic issues over the 20th century, the Korean people have remained strong and united in the face of tremendous odds. The quintessential Korean identity has in other words stayed intact. Dokdo is part of that identity.

Dokdo is unique much like Korea and its people. It is home to an extremely rich and diverse ecosystem unlike anywhere else in the world and it continues to exist and thrive despite the political bickering that surrounds it. The same can be said for Korea and Korean culture. Korea is divided and Koreans have existed between North and South, native or overseas, Koreans all take pride in being Korean and maintaining their cultural identity. To take Dokdo from Korea would be like taking Kimchi from Korea. Korean cuisine would continue, but it would not be authentic and a true reflection of itself, its history and its development. Those in Japan need to realize this. Dokdo is not just a part of Korea, but it is also a part of the Korean people.

When Korean football midfielder Park Jong-woo held up a sign at the end of his country’s bronze medal match against Japan at the 2012 London Olympics, many people around the world had trouble understanding what the sign was referring to. The message on the sign, “Dokdo is our territory,” was soon however broadcasted around the world and audience of millions, bringing attention to the territorial dispute.

While Koreans all know about Dokdo and its significance, within Japan,numerous commentators have periodically stated that the Japanese public has no particular interest or even knowledge of the controversy over the sovereignty of Dokdo.

Why then does the Japanese government continue to hold claims over the islets if Dokdo holds no particular significance to the Japanese people? The Japanese government therefore needs to reassess its continued claim over Dokdo and consider what is best for the islands and not what is best for itself.

However, one alarming reality for the future of the islets is that they will not last forever. The future of Dokdo is extremely fragile. Despite Dokdo being home to a rich number of bird and plant species, geologists have stated that the islands are eroding quickly and face numerous challenges in the near and long-term future.

Furthermore, the diversity and richness of the ecology on Dokdo is something that cannot be lost. Even if the sovereignty claims cannot be settled in the near future, it is vital that pollution and environmental concerns be addressed. The facts are Korea’s administration of Dokdo has been effectivein stopping/protecting the islands’ natural environment, regulating the number of visitors to the island and maintaining the beauty in “Beautiful Dokdo!”

In other words, the Korean government’s efforts to protect the ecologyand ecosystem on Dokdo need to be respected by the Japanese government and territorial and political disagreements must be put aside for the good of the islets. Japan should respect Korea’s administration as the best practical way to protect the natural environment on Dokdo for the generations to come.

The last point that needs to be stressed about Dokdo is its effect on Japan’s international image. Apart from Japan’s territorial conflict with Korea, Japan also has ongoing territorial disputes with Russia, China and Taiwan over several other islands. How are all of these sovereignty issues influencing the image of Japan internationally? Is it seen as a country that is pragmatic and understanding in its foreign policy behavior or is it seen as aggressive and inflexible to its neighboring countries?

The prolonged clashes that the Japanese government have with not only Korea regarding Dokdo, but also other countries in the region is no doubt hurting the image of Japan and its people from a regional and global perspective. Quickly settling these disputes would go a long way for Japan to finally reconcile with its Asian neighbors over the past and enable the region to move forward to a brighter future for all. The whole of Korea and the Korean people, for the time being, need to hold onto the dream – the dream of a beautiful Dokdo, a Korean Dokdo and a Dokdo Korea!