 |
| U.S. State of Georgia Sen. David Shafer, center, and Kim He-beom, fourth from left, Korea's consul general in Atlanta, hold a resolution at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Wednesday along with other officials representing Korean-American communities. Under the resolution, the Georgia Senate decided to use the East Sea as the name for the body of water between Korea and Japan. / Yonhap |
By Kim Tae-gyu
The U.S. state of Georgia legislature passed a resolution Wednesday in which it will identify the waters between Korea and Japan as the "East Sea," as well as "Sea of Japan."
The Georgia Senate unanimously passed the resolution, which was tabled by Sen. David Shafer of the Republican Party who has cooperated with Kim He-beom, Korea's consul general in Atlanta.
The measure, although non-binding, marks back-to-back victories for Korea, which has promoted the use of the East Sea, after the Virginia Senate also came up with a similar measure last week.
The resolution stated that the Korean Peninsula is "bound by its East and West Seas." It also noted that Korea is "one of the strongest allies and closest trading partners of the United States."
"In my opinion, the recent movements of Japan, which tilt further to the right, appear to have prompted the U.S. to make efforts to check it as showcased by the Georgia and Virginia cases," said Prof. Shin Yul at Myongji University.
"Similar actions are expected to take place in the U.S. down the road unless Japan changes its attitudes."
Another professor at a Seoul university concurred.
"The size of Japanese American constituents is larger than that of Korean American one. Hence, the politicians are typically tempted to represent the former," said the professor who asked not to be named.
"But Georgia lawmakers opted in favor of Korean Americans. I think the reason is because they care more about truth instead of politics. That is also the case for Virginia."
The Georgia legislation came just before the Virginia House votes on a similar bill in the Senate version. If the House approves it and Gov. Terry McAuliffe signs it, it will go into effect on July 1.
Then, any new textbooks procured for Virginia schools should indicate that the Sea of Japan is also known as the East Sea.
Regarding the Sea of Japan label as a remnant of the militarist Japan over its brutal rule of the Korean Peninsula (1910-45), Koreans have staged campaigns to use the East Sea label.
From the perspective of Koreans, of concern is that Japan is pulling out all the stops to prevent Virginia from forging ahead with the use of East Sea together with the Sea of Japan.
After the unprecedented vote in the Senate, Japan dispatched its ambassador to the U.S. Kenichiro Sasae to Richmond for a sit-down with Gov. McAuliffe as well as some legislative leaders.
Japan also hired multiple high-priced lobbyists so that Virginia would not make a final decision against the island country, one of the state's largest trading partners.
Rumors were reported that Japan threatened to reduce its trade with Virginia or get its companies to pull out of the state.
Thus far, McAuliffe is not expected to veto the bill if the House approves it because he announced his agreement with it during the elections. But fresh worries surfaced of late that he might not to abide by it in the face of strong pressure from Japan.
![[PHOTOS] Kep1er returns with 'Magic Hour' to mesmerize fans](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/cd6a652dcfe345fe92b760583c5eb68a.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
