By Kim Young-jin
Seoul is asking Internet giant Google revert back to using the name Dokdo on its mapping service Google Maps, after the firm’s “unacceptable” change regarding the disputed eastern islets.
The English-language service of Google Maps recently began referring to the islets, which Japan also claims, by its Franco-English name “Liancourt Rocks.” It remains “Dokdo” on the Korean-language service.
Foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young said Google notified the Korean embassy in the U.S. of the change last week.
"We made it clear that we can't accept Google's new policy because Dokdo is clearly Korean territory," Cho said. Seoul told the company that change was “unacceptable and requested that it show the name of Dokdo on Google Maps," he added.
Korea and Japan are locked in a heated debate over the islets, which Seoul controls and maintains is its territory based on historical and legal grounds. The government sees the issue as tied to Japan’s colonial legacy and urges Tokyo to properly address its past behavior.
Tokyo, meanwhile, has upped its claims since President Lee Myung-bak’s surprise visit to the islets in August.
Google cites its "global policy" for the name change and says the update was not made in response to any government request.
"We understand that names of places can raise deep emotions, which is why we have invested so much time ensuring that we get to the best outcome for our users," David Marx, Google's head of Product Communications in Asia Pacific region, in the statement.
Japan wants to take the case to international arbitration but Korea has dismissed the proposal. Pointing to centuries of documents including historical references, annals, and records that refer to Dokdo, Seoul says Dokdo is rightfully its territory and so no “territorial dispute” exists.