Three CBT reporters are members of the Dokdo Academy. The Dokdo Academy conducts national education and Dokdo excursion training for young people and college students who are interested in Dokdo in preparation for the Japanese invasion strategy. Japan has unreasonably recorded Dokdo as Takeshima in public institutions and publications around the world and has labeled the East sea as the Sea of Japan. The Dokdo Academy is a non-governmental, non-profit social contribution organization. It was established to correct these problems.



  On January 22, the Dokdo Academy conducted the joining ceremony at the National Assembly Member’s Office Building. In this joining ceremony, the theoretical education on the sovereignty of Dokdo and the orientation of the visit were conducted. Dokdo lies in the easternmost part of the Korean Peninsula and consists of two islands, called Dongdo and Seodo, and 89 scattered rocks. The government designated Dokdo as National Monument number 336 in 1982 to preserve many underground resources, excellent natural environment, and ecosystem. Many books, including Samguk Sagi, Sejong Silok, and Sukjong Silok, which are old documents of Korea state that Dokdo is Korean territory. However, although Dokdo is Korean territory, which is historically and internationally legal, Japan declared February 22 as ‘Takeshima Day’ to celebrate the island as Japanese territory, which made many Koreans angry. Also, Japan has provoked it by attempting underwater surveys around Dokdo.
  At the time of the IMF, when Korea was economically difficult, Korea concluded a new Korea - Japan fisheries agreement. In this agreement, on behalf of promoting economic cooperation, Dokdo was designated as a common area, which is why Japan claims Dokdo their territory. Many experts have enthusiastically lectured on the significance of the strategic value of Dokdo and the countermeasures against Japanese claims to Dokdo. The lecture is simply not claiming that Dokdo is Korean territory. The lecture included the specific reasons why Dokdo is Korean territory and the stance of the people as citizens. It encouraged not only reporters who listened to the lecture, but also all the Dokdo Academy to protect Dokdo and raised their pride.
  Lee Dong-ah (’18, Dept. Applicated biotechnology), said “After entering university, I had never thought deeply about the dispute over Dokdo with Japan. Before that, I learned only a few things about the claim that Dokdo is our territory and its grounds. However, as I listened to the lecture, I learned more concrete grounds. The lecture provided an opportunity to think seriously about Dokdo’s problem between Korea and Japan, the issue of Japanese occupation, and Japanese Military Sexual Slavery (also known as ‘Comfort Women’). Finally, I read a resolution on the protection of Dokdo and decided to participate in the upcoming Dokdo Academy activities actively.”



  On March 22, the three reporters gathered at Gwanghwamun Gate at noon to go to Dokdo. Ko Chang –geun (Dokdo Academy principal) said, “Japan is seeking many opportunities to invade Dokdo. Japan marked Dokdo as Takeshima in their textbooks and unilaterally marked Dokdo as ‘Takeshima’ to the whole world. They are crazy about insisting that Dokdo is Japanese territory. The reason we established the Dokdo Academy is to correct this and provide proper education about Dokdo. In particular, I hope that the university’s press will deepen their understanding of Dokdo and contribute to the education of Dokdo sovereignty and its public relations.” Before leaving the Gwanghwamun gate, reporters listened to what the principal said. We left the Gwanghwamun gate with an essential mission of the university newspaper and a palpitant heart.
  The day before we reached the region, a high sea level was seen by a gale from the sea, so the ship for Dokdo and Ulleungdo on the 22th was canceled. Therefore, CBT faced the most significant challenge, that visiting Dokdo may nearly fall through. Fortunately, on March 23, weather conditions were not bad. The shipping company conveyed that the ship will depart so that the CBT reporters could go to Dokdo. The typical way to go to Dokdo is by passing through Ulleungdo. The place where people can go to Ulleungdo is four places in Korea. It is Gangneung passenger terminal and Mukho passenger terminal, Gangwon-do Province.
  Moreover, it’s Hupo port of Uljin and Pohang passenger terminal, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. CBT reporters were going to Ulleungdo by way of Hupo port, which has the shorted required time to go to Ulleungdo, to minimize seasickness. Dokdo Academy members gathered in Gwanghwamun at midnight and arrived at Hupo port at 4 A.M.



  After arrival, Dokdo Academy members watched the sunrise at the observation deck around Hupo port and ate breakfast. The academy members prepared to board JH FERRY to go to Ulleungdo. However, as they say, “If the person wants to go to Dokdo, their three generations should gain virtue,” going to Dokdo is difficult because of rapidly changing weather conditions. Because of the sudden worsening of weather conditions, there was so much lift off the sea. Therefore, a shipping company informed Dokdo Academy members that a ship to Ulleungdo was canceled. Dokdo Academy members couldn’t visit Dokdo. Not only CBT reporters who expected to visit Dokdo for three months, but every Dokdo Academy member was sad. The President of Dokdo Academy encouraged the members by saying that the academy will later adjust the members’ academic schedule and the number of people available to go so that they can provide the members an opportunity of visiting Dokdo once more.



  Although the CBT members couldn’t visit Dokdo, education of sovereign power about Dokdo was meaningful as the Dokdo Academy member. CBT members will later write an article about Dokdo to promote sovereign power of Dokdo and work for the promotion of Dokdo.

By Lee Dong-ah l da39@cbnu.ac.kr
By Jung Jun-hoe l jjh38@cbnu.ac.kr
By Park Jeong-min l jm39@cbnu.ac.kr