Lawmakers marks liberation on Dokdo
By Yi Whan-woo
Ten lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties visited the country’s easternmost islets of Dokdo on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of Liberation Day, Monday.
This is the first time since 2013 that legislators visited Dokdo to reinforce Korea’s sovereignty over the islets, which are claimed by Japan.
The Japanese government expressed regret over their visit, saying “It was unacceptable.”
The lawmakers’ visit to Dokdo came as Japanese politicians keep visiting Yasukuni Shrine which honors Japan’s war dead ― and houses the remains of some Class A war criminals ― despite strong protests from the two Koreas and China.
On the same day, dozens of Japanese lawmakers and two ministers ― Tamayo Marukawa, minister for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, and Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi ― visited the shrine while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering.
The South Korean lawmakers, led by Rep. Na Kyung-won of the ruling Saenuri Party, crossed the East Sea and landed on Dokdo by helicopter in the morning after departing from the National Assembly in Seoul. Na served as the chairwoman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.
The six other Saenuri Party legislators were Sung Il-jong, Park Myung-jae, Khang Hyo-sang, Kim Seang-tae, Lee Jong-myeong, Yoon Jong-pil. The remaining three were Reps. Kim Jong-min and Hwang Hee of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), and Chang Jung-sook of the minor opposition People’s Party.
They met maritime police guards there, visited their barracks and guard posts while delivering presents to them in recognition of their services.
“I found out that the barracks often had electrical failures and a shortage of water so that guards could not take shower,” Na said. “I hope people visiting Dokdo will facilitate changes in the future. Also, the National Assembly should pay more attention and lend support in fixing these issues.”
The legislators later crossed from the west of Dokdo to its east on bicycles. They met a group of civic activists who were also touring Dokdo to celebrate Liberation Day. All the visitors took out national flags and waved them together as part of celebrations.
Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary of the Japanese government and also its chief spokesman, said he found such a visit “unacceptable.”
Na said Suga’s remarks “were not worth responding to” during a media interview after returning to Seoul.
Sung agreed, claiming “The visit was a part of legislative activities.”
Japan has claimed territorial rights over Dokdo for 12 consecutive years in its annual defense white papers, including the one issues on Aug. 2.
The territorial dispute over Dokdo has been one of the stumbling blocks in the Seoul-Tokyo ties along with historical disputes.
On the same day, Han Sang-ki, the administrative chief of Taean County, South Chungcheong Province, also traveled to Dokdo and handed a stone from South Korea’s westernmost archipelago in the county to Choi Soo-il, the head of Ulleung County, to which Dokdo belongs.
The handover of the stone was a symbolic move to underscore South Korea’s territorial rights to the islets.