information service

Dokdo is a beautiful island located in the easternmost of the Korean peninsula. It consists of an East Island, West Island and other small islands (89 islands). This island is 187,554㎡-wide (73,297㎡: East Island, 88,740㎡: West Island, other small islands: 25,517㎡) with 5.4km in girth (2.8km in East Island, 2.6km in West Island). In terms of Korean administrative district,
Dokdo belongs to Dokdo-ri, Ulleung-eup, Ulleung-gun,
Gyeongsangbuk-do. It is 216.8km away from Jukbyeon,
Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk in the east and 87.4km from
Ulleungdo in the southeast. In terms of location
on the map, East Island is
37°14’26.8’’ in the north latitude
and 131°52’10.4’’ in the east
longitude while West Island is
37°14’30.6’’ in the north latitude
and 131°51’54.6’’ in the east longitude.

Usanguk, or the State of Usan, occupied Ulleungdo, Dokdo and the adjacent islands during the Korean Three Kingdoms period. Ulleungdo and Dokdo were conquered by the Silla general Isabu in 512 (the 13th year of King Jijeung’s reign). In addition, both islands were often mentioned in the historical records during the Joseon period such as Sejongsillok Jiriji (1454) and Sinjeung Donggukyeojiseunglam (1530). During the Daehan Empire period, Dokdo clearly belonged to Korea in the maps such as Sejongsillok Jiriji (1454) and Sinjeungdonggukyeojiseunglam (1530). During the Daehan Empire period, Dokdo clearly belonged to Korea in the maps such as Daehan Yeojido (1898) and Daehan Jeondo (1899).

In accordance with Royal Order No. 41 (October 1900), Daehan Empire
administered Ulleungdo,
Jukseodo and Dokdo under the jurisdiction of Uldo-gun.
Ulleungdo and Dokdo
frequently appeared as Korean land in many old historical records and maps of Japan. According to the Collection of Survey Records from the Onshu District (1667),
Japan clearly admitted that both Ulleungdo and Dokdo were Korean territory, saying that the Onshu District was the national border in the northwest region. In the map of Shihei Hayashi (1785), Ulleungdo and Dokdo were colored in yellow, indicating that they were Korean territory.

Furthermore, according to the official report titled Chosenkoku Kosaishimatsu Naitansho (1870), it was clearly mentioned that Dokdo was the land of Korea.
The Japanese Prime Minister also said that Ulleungdo and Dokdo had nothing to with Japan in his final decision dated on March 20, 1877.

According to the Map of Joseon (1737) drawn by a French geographer D'Anville, Ulleungdo and Dokdo were the possessions of the Joseon Dynasty. During the Russo-Japanese war, however, Japan incorporated Dokdo as its territory by force by calling it as ‘terra nullius (empty land).’
At the cabinet council meeting on January 28, 1905, Japan renamed Dokdo as Takeshima and incorporated it into Shimane Prefecture.

After Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, Korea’s territorial sovereignty on Dokdo was restored.

Since the end of World War II, Dokdo was freed from the Japanese territorial jurisdiction. After all, the island became Korean territory upon national liberation. According to SCAPIN Order 677 dated January 1946,

the islands around the Korean peninsula including Jejudo, Ulleungdo and Dokdo were returned back to the possessions of Korea.
Furthermore, another instruction, SCAPIN 1033 of June 22, 1946, prohibited Japanese nationals from approaching within 12 miles of Dokdo. On January 18, 1952, Korean government incorporated Dokdo as its territory under the jurisdiction of Ulleung-gun, Gyeongbuk.

Nevertheless, Japan has not given up their goal to take over Dokdo. In 1947, Japanese government published a brochure that said that Dokdo was Japanese land and submitted it to the U.S.

Department of State. Led by a great American friend of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, W. J. Sebald, Japan tried to regain Dokdo during the negotiations of the San Francisco Peace Treaty between Japan and the former Allied Powers.
However, it eventually failed. Since 1954, the government of Japan has invited Koreans to take the issue before the International Court of Justice.

In March 2005, the Shimane Prefectural Assembly, supported by a majority, officially passed the ‘Takeshima Day (February 22)' Ordinance.

Furthermore, the new middle school curriculum guidebook for Social Studies, which was published in July 2008 in Japan, said that Dokdo was the territory of Japan.

This kind of Japan’s continuous scheme of invasion has been a huge threat to many East Asian countries and international society. Dokdo has long been the territory of Korea and is in full possession by the nation. Therefore, Dokdo will definitely remain in Korean hands.