Conflict over Dokdo:
Not Just a Korean Problem, but an International Agenda
Lee Han-na, Head Student Editor
A couple of months ago, Koreans experienced an affair that the U.S. Board on Geographic Names revised the description of Dokdo with undesignated sovereignty. At that time, I was so upset and thought the Korean government should prepare something substantial to protect our land. I promised myself to study the history of Dokdo. However, my pledge has been broken due to midterm tests and many reports. While I felt sorry that I could not keep my promise, I had an opportunity to participate in a Dokdo Academy of Dokdo Defense International Network.
In the academy, I learned various things that I had not known before. First, I found out that Japan does not have any reasonable historical claims to the island. In the past, Japan has admitted three times that Dokdo is not a Japanese territory and the Allied Powers had approved Dokdo as Korean territory after World War Ⅱ. From these facts, I can persist now that Dokdo is an island of South Korea with undisputable evidence that confirms this point with historical documents. I also found out that preserving Dokdo is very important, not only for Korea, but the whole world as well.
It is certain that Dokdo is our land. Nevertheless, it is very ironic that Korea is worried if it would be robbed of this island by another country in the 21st Century when democracy is developed and all people’s rights and liberties are regarded as rules by which should be abided. Although Japan has tried to incorporate Dokdo into Japan ceaselessly with severe lobbying and specific strategies, the international order should secure the sovereignty of each nation and further protect weak and small nations against powerful countries which exercise their power. It is for the preservation of peaceful relationships among nations. The Dokdo dispute, therefore, can be stated to be a very important international issue.
Some Korean people think that sovereignty of Dokdo should be claimed for the sake of profit from the sea resources around the island, such as marine life, mineral resources, and potential hydrocarbon resources. Moreover, there are some Koreans who seek to solve this dispute with a nationalistic attitude. Although their thoughts are not wrong, we should discuss it at large over a nationalistic view. Protecting the sovereignty of Dokdo is the same as preserving international peace and order against a capital logic and force of logic. In other words, the Dokdo conflict should be considered as a primary international agenda of Korea.