Sankei Shimbun, a Japanese right-wing media outlet, recently claimed that “South Korea has been illegally occupying Dokdo for over 70 years.” In response, Professor Seo Kyung-deok of Sungshin Women’s University strongly criticized the newspaper, suggesting that it should be shut down entirely. On the 23rd, Professor Seo expressed on his social media that “a media outlet attempting to mislead public opinion without proper evidence should be closed down.”
Professor Seo pointed out, “Sankei always claims that Dokdo is Japanese territory without presenting any proper evidence,” and advised, “First, understand who created the ‘Dajokan Directive’ and what it entails, then determine whose territory Dokdo historically belongs to.” The ‘Dajokan Directive’ is a document from March 1877 by the Dajokan, the highest administrative body of the Japanese Meiji government, which stated that Ulleungdo and Dokdo are unrelated to Japan.
Previously, on February 22, Japan’s Shimane Prefecture held a ceremony asserting that Dokdo is Japanese territory, calling it “Takeshima Day” based on the name Japan claims for Dokdo. Since the unilateral establishment of Takeshima Day in 2005, Shimane Prefecture has been hosting annual commemorative events. They argue this was justified by their administrative notice in 1905 declaring Dokdo part of their jurisdiction.
The Japanese government dispatched Imai Eriko, a parliamentary secretary, to this year’s Takeshima Day event, marking the 13th consecutive year a vice minister-level official was sent, despite Shimane Prefecture’s request for a ministerial-level attendee. Due to considerations for Korea-Japan relations, a minister was not sent.
On this day, Sankei Shimbun published an editorial reiterating the claim that Korea’s occupation of Dokdo constitutes a “clear violation of sovereignty and cannot be tolerated,” insisting that “both historically and under international law, Takeshima is Japan’s inherent territory.” The editorial further questioned why Takeshima Day, unlike Northern Territories Day established by the Japanese government, remains designated only by Shimane Prefecture and urged the central government to formalize it.
In a related demonstration, Jeju haenyeo (female divers) displayed the South Korean flag in the waters around Dokdo for the first time in over 70 years, underscoring their stance on the territorial dispute.