'Knowing Japan is key to winning'

Lee So-ri

By Lee Kyung-min

Knowing Japan and its strengths in defending its territorial claims over Dokdo is the key to winning the argument over the issue, according to Lee So-ri, 53, a senior researcher at the Division of Dokdo Policy under the North Gyeongsang Provincial Government, Friday.

Japan took control of Dokdo, Korea’s easternmost islets in the East Sea, in 1905, when it forced the Joseon Kingdom to abandon its sovereign rights of diplomacy in a prelude to colonizing the Korean Peninsula in 1910.

“Koreans tend to get instantly angry and verbally attack Japan, dominated mainly by emotions rather than a winning strategy to logically refute its claim point by point,” said Lee, who began her work involving Dokdo in September 2005 at the provincial government.

A more efficient and wiser way should be learning from Japan to better prepare counterarguments and follow-up strategies, she added.

“Dismissing everything Japan only helps it further achieve its aim of claiming Dokdo. Accumulating accurate knowledge more than Japan does is the only way to successfully defeat it,” she said.

She made such points during her speech on the last day of Dokdo camp where more than 60 students participated to promote global awareness about Korea’s sovereignty of the islets.

Jointly organized by Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK), a cyber diplomatic organization, and the provincial government that has administrative control over both Dokdo and nearby Ulleung Island, the annual camp was held on both islands between Aug. 3 and 5.

Earning support from the international community is an aspect not to be overlooked, she said.

“Korea is a relatively small country heavily influenced by other countries. But, continuing grassroots efforts to win support from people in foreign countries by offering fact-based persuasive arguments is the best way to turn the tide in our favor,” she added.