Is Dokdo Korean territory?

Phillip Yoon, B.A. Mathematics & Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University (2021)

Answered May 7, 2017

Dokdo IS the territory of the Korea.

Some might think this is a ‘controversial’ topic but I do not think this should be even controversial, because the answer is pretty obvious.

The major causes of the ‘controversy’ of Dokdo is because of historical context. Japan colonized Korea from 1910 to 1945. By that time, Japan formally annexed all the islands and mainland of Korea to their own sovereignty, which included Dokdo as well. When Japan lost in World War 2, Japan needed to relinquish all the countries that Japan invaded for last decades. Korea was one of them.

In San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951, there is no precise sentence of the document stating Dokdo is Korean territory. It simply says

Article 2
(a) Japan recognizing the independence of Korea, renounces all right, title and claim to Korea, including the isles of Quelpart, Port Hamilton and Dagelet.

As you can see, there is no ‘Dokdo’ in the article. Japan picks this part out and says that since the article never even mentioned Dokdo, there is no reason for them to return the territory. Therefore, it is Japanese territory, according to Japan.

However, Dokdo is also a part of ‘Dagelet’ (a.k.a Ullengdo) due to the geographical adjacency and that’s why Dokdo automatically becomes Korean territory as well.

Japan is so hysteric about this island because of the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). EEZ is an area of ocean where is from 200 nautical miles off the coast. Nations can claim and exercise sovereign rights and exclusive fishery management authority over all fish, according to OECD. They basically want their ocean to be as wide as possible.

One good example of Japan trying hard to do this is Okinotorishima, which was formerly an atoll in the middle of the pacific ocean but not anymore (because it almost sinked).

Look at this. This is what Japan calls ‘a sovereign island.’ All I see is just them trying so hard to maintain the sinking atolls by making a concrete structure around the atoll. This cannot be acknowledged as a ‘sovereign island.’ A human being cannot permanently live here. A human being cannot maintain oneself economically. However, due to the geographic location, if Japan claims this island then it will widen their EEZ a lot. That’s why they’re doing it.

I digressed a little bit. Anyway, the point is, the Dokdo dispute is pretty much in same motivation of what they are doing with Okinotorishima.

I can talk about the whole fight between Korea and Japan on whether or not Dokdo is Korean or Japanese… However, legally it is administered by South Korea and you need to go through Korean port in order to get to Dokdo. There is no ships going to Dokdo from the Japan side. There are Korean flags hoisted. There are Korean officers staying in the island. It is an obvious Korean territory.

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[Quora] Is Dokdo Korean territory?

Is Dokdo Korean territory?