Dokdo: Korean Territory Since the 6th Century

Historical Association of Korea-Japan Relations
The Republic of Korea regrets that Japan is undermining relations between the two nations by challenging Korean sovereignty over Dokdo, an island that has been Korean territory for fifteen hundred years. Korean title to Dokdo is indisputable, borne out by a wide variety of historical and documentary evidences, including documented cases where the Japanese government itself recognized Korean sovereignty over the island. In spite of these facts, Japan is making a groundless territorial claim to this Korean island.
Sadly, Japan’s territorial claim prompts Koreans to recall painful memories of brutal Japanese colonial rule, and to ask themselves whether they can cultivate genuine friendship with their island neighbor. As the following paper will demonstrate, Korean sovereignty over Dokdo is truly beyond question or argument. Japan’s continued challenge against it-sustained only by disregarding or distorting well-established historical facts- only serve to reinforce our suspicion that the public apologies by Japanese leaders and politicians for Japan’s past aggression have been nothing but hollow words and empty gestures.


Contents

Part I
Profile of Dokdo
1. Geography and Environment 
2. Names

Part II
Korean Sovereignty over Dokdo - Facts and Evidence
1. When Did Dokdo Become a Part of Korean Territory?
2. Ahn Yong-bok’s Activities and Japan’s 19 Confirmation of Korean Sovereignty over Dokdo
3. Korean Sovereignty over Dokdo Reconfirmed : Japanese Documentary Evidence of the Late 19th Century
4. The Rise of Japanese Imperialism and Japan’s Shimane Prefectural Notice No. 40 (1905)

Part III
The Only Conclusion - Dokdo Facts

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