Foreign bloggers see beauty of Dokdo
Honorary reporters for Korea.net, a foreign-language website run by the Korean government, pose with guards on Dokdo, Sunday. The trip was co-organized by the Northeast Asia History Foundation and Korea.net. / Courtesy of Korea.net
By Choi Ha-young
A group of 11 foreign bloggers visited Dokdo, the country’s easternmost islets, on the invitation of the Northeast Asia History Foundation (NAHF) and Korea.net, a foreign-language government website run under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
It was a rare chance for the participants to learn about the history of Dokdo and meet the people there. Representing nine countries ― Pakistan, the Philippines, Malaysia, the U.S., New Zealand, Tajikistan, Brazil, China and Korea ― the 11 were among those selected last December as honorary reporters for
affiliated with Korea.net.
“I learned there are diplomatic problems between Korea and Japan, but what I feel here is peace,” said Boqiev Ahrorjon from Tajikistan, 26, a Konkuk University student. “It’s refreshing, beautiful and quiet.”
The travelers fully enjoyed their 30-minute-long stay there Sunday, taking selfies with Dokdo guards and spotting fish in the clear water.
“The shapes of the rocks are mysterious,” said Luo Hui, 27, a Chinese graduate who studied at Ewha Womans University. “Dokdo is usually known for the territorial dispute between Korea and Japan. Of course this issue is important but I hope more people get to know the beauty of the island.”
The participants visited Dokdo Museum on nearby Ulleung Island, Saturday, to learn about the islets’ ecological value, its history and the background of the territorial dispute. They viewed ancient documents that mark the islets as territory of the State of Usan, which was conquered by Silla in 512.
Brazilian student Leonardo Saturnino Ferreira, 27, met two Dokdo residents, Kim Seong-do, 76, and Kim Sin-yeol, 78, selling T-shirts to visitors at the port there. The old couple has lived there since 1970.
“We work, eat and fight. There’s nothing good to living here,” the 78-year-old grandmother said with a laugh.
Despite his wife’s complaints, Kim Seong-do wants to live there until he dies. “I’ve lived here for 50 years. It’s my hometown,” he said.
On way back to Seoul, the participants shared their impressions and discussed various challenges facing Northeast Asia, including the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China. “I have a lot of Chinese friends even though we have territorial dispute,” said Pedellume Lilia of the Philippines.
The blogger, who writes and paints about Korea, shared a poem titled “My little friend, Dokdo” that she wrote after visiting there. “The sea water shining like a glass; the stones in the water; I can count every single one,” it reads.
“We enjoyed Korea’s beautiful nature with reporters from various nations, speaking in Korean,” said Lee Jeong-il, public relations director of the NAHF. “I hope for this experience to enrich their future careers and lives.”