Korea to rev up global PR campaign for Dokdo on social sites

Korea will rev up a public relations drive on social networking sites worldwide for its easternmost islets of Dokdo to counter Japan's claims to the islets, a high-ranking government official said Monday.

Diplomatic tension between South Korea and Japan remains high following the unprecedented Aug. 10 visit to Dokdo by President Lee Myung-bak, who cited Tokyo's unrepentant attitude over its brutal 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula as a key reason for the trip.

Last week, Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan told reporters that his government was preparing to run counter ads in Japanese media shortly after the Tokyo government ran ads in Japanese newspapers defending its sovereignty claims to Dokdo.

"We are considering running ads in Japanese media but that would be difficult. So we will start a public relations blitz on social networking sites," the official said on condition of anonymity.

To appeal to international audiences, the official said it is important to make an entertaining PR video clip for Dokdo "as Psy did," referring to the global smash music video by Korean rapper Psy for his song, "Gangam Style."

The quirky music video, which features a horse-riding dance that has caught on around the world, is now on course to hit 200 million views on YouTube.

Asked whether to appoint Psy as a "PR ambassador" for Dokdo, the official replied the government "does not want to put a burden on him, but will consider it."

Dokdo, which lies closer to South Korea in the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, has long been a thorn in relations between the two countries. South Korea keeps a small police detachment on the islets, effectively controlling them.

Korea views Tokyo's claims to Dokdo as a sign that Japan has not fully repented for its imperialist past and denies Korea's independence because the country reclaimed sovereignty over all of its territory, including Dokdo, after the colonial rule ended. (Yonhap)