Dokdo: A historical and sovereign territory of Korea
Kumra Bishwanath
Dokdo (also known internationally as the Liancourt Rocks and in Japan as Takeshima) is an island located in the East Sea of Korea. South Korea asserts its territorial sovereignty over Dokdo through historical, legal and administrative evidence, arguing that the island has been an integral part of Korean territory for centuries, deeply rooted in historical records and continuous administrative management.
The Korean claim to Dokdo dates back to historical documents from the sixth century. The oldest reference appears in the “Samguk Sagi,” a historical record from the 918-1392 Goryeo Dynasty, which mentions the ancient state of Usan-guk, believed to include both Ulleung Island and Dokdo. The “Sejong Sillokjiriji,” compiled in the 15th century, explicitly mentions Dokdo. This document, prepared in 1454, describes the territories of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty and indicates that both Ulleung Island and Dokdo were within Korean territory. Additionally, the “Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam,” a comprehensive geographical book dating to 1531, reaffirms Korea’s administrative control over Dokdo.
Over the centuries, Korea has claimed to have managed Dokdo administratively. Numerous royal decrees and maps from Joseon, such as the “Paldochongdo” (1530), include Dokdo as part of Korean territory. Korean fishermen and residents of Ulleung Island have historically used Dokdo as a base for fishing, demonstrating a continuous Korean presence and utilization of the island.
Records in the “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty” from the late 17th century document the Korean government dispatching officials to Dokdo and Ulleung Island to strengthen sovereignty and manage resources. In 1900, the Imperial Edict No. 41 of the Korean Empire placed Dokdo under the jurisdiction of Uldo County, reaffirming Korea’s administrative control.
Historical evidence also includes instances where Japan recognized Korean sovereignty over Dokdo. After a diplomatic dispute between Korea and Japan over Ulleung Island in the late 17th century, the Tokugawa Shogunate issued an order prohibiting Japanese nationals from traveling to Ulleung Island and its surrounding areas, implicitly recognizing Korean control over these territories, including Dokdo. Moreover, an 1877 directive from the Japanese government explicitly stated that Ulleung Island and Dokdo were not Japanese territories. This significant evidence is frequently cited by Korean scholars to show that Japan did not consider Dokdo as part of its territory even in the late 19th century.
Post-World War II directives from the Allied Powers, such as the Cairo Declaration (1943) and the Potsdam Declaration (1945), aimed to return territories occupied by Japan to their original owners. Korea interprets these documents as supporting the return of Dokdo, which was unlawfully annexed during the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, to Korean control.
In 1946, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) issued SCAPIN No. 677, excluding Dokdo from Japanese administrative control. After Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, it reasserted control over Dokdo. Since 1954, Korea has maintained a small detachment of police officers on the island, further solidifying its administrative presence.
As discussed above, from the Korean perspective, the historical, legal and administrative evidence strongly supports Dokdo as an inherent part of Korean territory. The consistent documentation of Dokdo in historical records, uninterrupted administrative control, acknowledgment from Japan within a historical context and actions taken after World War II collectively reinforce Korea’s position.
For Koreans, Dokdo is more than just a disputed territory; it symbolizes national sovereignty and historical continuity. The island represents the resilience and perseverance of the Korean people in the face of historical challenges.
I learned all of this through a direct experience with the 2024 Global Peace Reporter-Dokdo Exploration program, a three-day event from July 16 to 18. The program, conducted entirely in Korean, was attended mainly by Global Korea Scholarship recipients.
On the first day, July 16, we arrived at Ulleung Island, an island I personally find special. With its beautiful natural scenery, diverse cuisine and various experiential programs, I believe Ulleung Island could become a major tourist destination in Korea within a few years if infrastructure development continues. It might even become attractive enough that Korea may have to limit visitors or impose a tourist tax. If you are planning a trip to Korea, I highly recommend adding Ulleung Island to your list.
On the second day, July 17, we headed towards Dokdo. After breakfast, we hurried to the port, which was already crowded with Koreans eager to visit Dokdo. People were dressed in uniforms, holding Korean flags, and some even adorned their heads with flag decorations, showing the strong emotions Koreans have for Dokdo. After a two-hour boat ride, Dokdo finally came into view. We were excited to see Dokdo, which we had only seen in cosmetics ads or other media. However, due to weather and sea waves, we were unable to land on the island. The group expressed disappointment, with some asking if it wasn’t possible to dock under these conditions. But safety and principles are non-negotiable. Instead, we contented ourselves with viewing Dokdo from the boat and took commemorative photos to soothe our disappointment.
There is a saying, “You haven’t truly seen Korea until you’ve seen Dokdo.” The sincere expressions and emotional reactions of the Koreans on the boat made me understand the meaning of this phrase. If you want to gain a deeper insight into the core of Korea, I strongly recommend visiting Ulleung Island and Dokdo.
Kumar Bishwanath, a Ph.D. research scholar from India at the Department of Linguistics, College of Humanities, Seoul National University, and a Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) recipient, specializes in Korean linguistics and contrastive linguistics.