Singer Kim Jang-hun, who privately funded the public awareness campaign ad on The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post on Aug. 6, will run the same ad on The New York Times next week as well, determined to "go all the way with the Dokdo issue," Chosun Ilbo reported Saturday.
"This is not a showbiz stunt to boost my popularity. Actually I am risking my entire professional career because I believe this is something I am compelled to do," he said.
Kim has been at the forefront of international campaign to raise awareness on Dokdo, a set of disputed islets in the East Sea.
Kim has so far funded hundreds of millions of won for the cause.
Kim said his passion for Dokdo came from the fact that "Korea is a country that has been invaded by foreign forces as many as 936 times, but each time it rose again. It also rose from the rags of the Korean War a few decades ago to become the world's 13th largest economy.
"This country is resilient. It has something. It's cool. I am proud of it. I cannot let go of it," he said.
Some worry that such an open and public campaign for Dokdo, like that of Kim, is exactly what Japan wants as Japan can use it as "evidence" that Dokdo is a "disputed" territory and bring the matter to the international court for a new settlement on the islets.
Dokdo is currently under the de facto control of Korea.
"I am aware of it," Kim said. "But then, the 'quiet diplomacy' approach has it limitations when Japan is mounting a very aggressive international lobbying on the matter. You cannot just sit back and watch."
Although the issue is between Korea and Japan, Kim said, "Ultimately, it's a competition to have the international community on your side. That's something we have neglected because it's currently under Korean control.
"It's less about high-pitched slogans. It's more about persuading the international community to be on our side by backing our claims. And we need to do it with evidence and research. Running an ad is one way to promote our cause, seeking more international understanding on the matter," he said.
As a singer, he said, his philosophy is to deliver his message through singing. "But you can't just sing when the truth is not reachable. You actually have to do something."
In fact, his preoccupation with Dokdo doesn't spare him much time for singing. It doesn't help him financially either.
"This may negatively affect my career. But I am determined to go all the way with Dokdo," he said.