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Ten truths about Dokdo not known in Japan

Bang Jun-suk Bang Jun-suk is a high school student attending Gwacheon Foreign Language High school currently in his third year. He lived in the United States for 8 years and enjoys playing sports and reading novels. His great grandfather was an independence fighter, well known for creating Children’s Day (May 5). Bang wishes to become a journalist, and it is his honorable ancestor from whom he gains great inspiration in chasing this dream.

South Korea and Japan have never really been the best of friends. After Japan’s colonial rule over South Korea from 1910 to 1945, South Koreans have always had difficulty viewingJapan in a positive manner. Considering such deep roots, why Korea protects Dokdo so desperately is not much of a mystery.

Although both sides have revealed their views on the matter, it is highly unlikely that the people of Japan have a grasp of what the actual truth is. Even when I ask some of my classmates for their opinions, most of them perceive the disputed islets as Korean territory without knowing exactly why. Likewise, there definitely ought to be various facts that are not fully known in Japan.

Japan claims that certain historical maps have recognized Dokdo to beJapanese territory for a long time. A certain map, “The Revised Complete Map of Japanese Lands and Roads” (Kaisei Nihon Yochiro Teizenzu, 1846), a compilation by Nagakubo Sekisui, does indeed feature the islands.

However people have failed to notice that the islands are located outside the longitudinal and latitudinal lines of the map itself, not exactly indicating them as a part of Japan. In fact, it is also unknown to the people of Japan that there are Japanese maps that show the islands as Korean territory. One in particular, “The Complete Map of Joseon” (Chosen Zenzu), published by the Advisory Bureau of the Japanese Army, charted the islands as Korean territory. This map was created in 1876, 30 years after Nagakubo Sekisui’s map.

Meanwhile, prominent maps of Joseon have shown Dokdo as Korean territory, including “The Map of the Eight Provinces of Korea” (Paldo Chongdo). However, Japan has claimed that this map switched the location of Usando (Dokdo) with that of Ulleungdo. This error supposedly proves that Usando is not Dokdo but actually Ulleungdo, or else a completely unknown island altogether.

Though this does appear to be a plausible argument, it is probably not widely known in Japan that there are Japanese maps from the past that have included errors as well. Gyoki-do, the official map of Japan used from the 8th century to the 16th century, actually charted non-existent countries on its map. Therefore, we can see that, in the past, inaccuracies involved in maps were an inevitable aspect of cartography.

According to Japan, the sovereignty over the islands was claimed in the 17th century. In the early 17th century, the Murakawa family and the Oya family received permission for passage to Ulleungdo for fishing business. Dokdo was a rest stop for the journeys and also served as rich fishing grounds. Japan argues that this permission and economic activity reflects sovereignty. However, it can also make people wonder whether it is normal for a citizen to ask permission to travel inside his or her own country. In other words, this in itself is contradictory with Japan’s claim of having control over Dokdo at the time.

Later on in that particular century, there was a ban on travelling to Ulleungdo, which was issued by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Almost 150 years later, a man named Hachiemon was executed because he travelled to Ulleungdo without permission. Japan now claims that Dokdo, supposedly under Japanese control, was not part of that prohibition, which was only intended for Ulleungdo. However, quite remarkably, on the map annexed for Hachiemon’s trial record, Dokdo was noted as Korean land.

Another widely discussed topic concerns the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which emphasized that Japan must relinquish the territories it had acquired during war. Japan has argued that this treaty did not mention Dokdo as an area it should renounce. However, Japan should realize that not all areasbeing explicitly mentioned in the treaty mean that the incorporation of Dokdo was a valid act. The treaty did not mention the name of the island because it is obvious that the conditions in the treaty would relate to Dokdo, which was forcefully taken from Korea during the Russo-Japanese war.

Then again, it could be possible for the Japanese to think, “Why didn’tKorea protest at the time if the incorporation of Dokdo was illegal?” The answer to that lies in almost every single history book currently in existence in South Korea. In November 1905, the Eulsa Agreement was made, which involved Korea losing its diplomatic rights, leaving it helpless against the military-strong Japan.

Moving on, not even many Koreans are aware of the fact that from theearly 1940s to the late 1950s, the United States designated the Dokdo islets as a bombing range for live drills. On June 8, 1948, U.S. bombers killed 14 Korean fishermen and injured 10 others. After a sincere apology by Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge, then commanding general of the U.S. forces stationed in Korea, the very next day, an American daily issued an editorial, portraying the islands as a fishing area that has served the Koreans for generations. This is strong evidence that the U.S. recognized Dokdo as Korean territory in the past.

Regardless of what the truth is, Japan might question why South Koreadoes not take this matter to the International Court of Justice. The reason itself is not that complicated. South Korea feels no need to. All the evidence leads to the immutable fact that Dokdo is South Korean territory, and there is no reason for South Korea to prove its own legitimate rights. Nobody would enjoy being sued by a neighbor for driving one’s own car.

The final truth of Dokdo obviously not known in Japan is quite simple:under no circumstances will the citizens of South Korea give up on the task of protecting their land. Accepting the past is the first big step for moving on. Apologizing may be difficult, especially in such delicate matters. But as it is necessary for a brighter future, Japan should start seeing the truth instead of refusing to accept its past wrongdoings. With somemore communication and understanding, the day might come when Japan gets its priorities straight.