Singer protest Japan's Dokdo claims

Seo Hee

By Jun Ji-hye

Singer Seo Hee performed in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul Monday to protest against an event held in Japan to stress its claim to the Korean islets of Dokdo.

Seo, who has earned the nickname “Dokdo singer” for his efforts to promote Dokdo worldwide as Korean territory, sang his song “Do you know Dokdo?” in both Korean and Japanese.

“I came here with my guitar to protest against Japan’s impudent sovereignty claims despite historical evidence that shows Dokdo is part of Korean territory,” Seo told reporters after the performance. “I sang a Japanese version too to help raise its people’s awareness.”

The performance came a day after Shimane Prefecture in Japan held a “Takeshima Day” ceremony with a vice minister-level official dispatched by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Some 500 politicians, local government officials and residents attended the event.

Korea has effectively controlled Dokdo with a small police detachment since its liberation from Japan in 1945. But, Tokyo has claimed that the islets, which lie closer to Korea, are part of its territory, although it never established sovereignty.

“I am planning to hold a concert on Dokdo this year,” Seo said. “I am exerting efforts to make a performance in the United States’ Silicon Valley and other countries.”

Since 2009, he has sung four versions of the Dokdo song ― in Korean, Japanese, English and Spanish.

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye.