"Tokyo Olympic Participation Denied" Japan's Dokdo Notation, IOC Silent... Citizens 'Furious'

Remove it for Pyeongchang... Japan's Dokdo notation, IOC ignoring arbitration
Expert "Japan politically exploiting the Olympics"

A map of Japan on the Tokyo Olympics homepage marking Dokdo with a small dot (left), and an example map provided by Professor Seokyeongdeok of Sungshin Women's University showing the correct way to indicate Dokdo to the Japanese side. / Photo by Professor Seokyeongdeok [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Public outrage is growing over the issue of Dokdo's notation on the Tokyo Olympics official website. Despite the Japanese government's depiction of Dokdo as its own territory, our government has repeatedly demanded corrections, but Japan refuses to comply.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also shown a seemingly passive attitude by not intervening in this issue, prompting strong criticism among citizens who say, "The IOC is violating the Olympic spirit."

Previously, Japan marked Dokdo as its territory on a map introducing the torch relay course on the Tokyo Olympics website. Our government protested to Japan, and the website was adjusted so that Dokdo was no longer visible.

However, when zooming in on the screen, a faint dot remains at the location corresponding to Dokdo. It was only made invisible to the naked eye, but the territorial claim over Dokdo remains intact.

Upon learning of this, our government and citizens protested again to Japan, but Japan continues to assert that "Dokdo is Japanese territory" and refuses to accept demands for correction.

Regarding this, the IOC has avoided taking an active stance. Previously, on the 24th of last month, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee sent an official letter to the IOC requesting mediation on the Dokdo notation issue.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also publicly summoned Hirohisa Soma, the Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Korea, on the 1st to protest and delivered a letter urging the IOC to actively mediate. However, the IOC has yet to issue any statement on this matter.

This contrasts with the stance taken during the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics when the issue of Dokdo notation on the Korean Peninsula flag arose. At that time, when North and South Korea tried to include Dokdo on the flag, Japan protested, and the IOC recommended removing Dokdo. Consequently, North and South Korea decided to exclude Dokdo from the flag.

On the other hand, the IOC has not taken any position on Japan's Dokdo notation in the Tokyo Olympics, leading some to suggest that the IOC might be supporting Japan's claims.

The National Sovereignty Solidarity held a press conference in front of the Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 27th of last month, condemning the organizing committee and the Japanese government for marking Dokdo as Japanese territory on the official map of the Tokyo Olympics website and demanding the removal of the map. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Among citizens, public opinion strongly condemns the Japanese government and the IOC. On the 27th of last month, a petition titled "If the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee insists on marking Dokdo as Japanese territory, we should declare a boycott of the Olympics" was posted on the Blue House petition board.

The petitioner criticized, "During the PyeongChang Olympics, we conceded the notation of Dokdo to uphold the Olympic spirit. Japan's actions are tantamount to a declaration of propaganda using the Olympics to internationally expose its ambitions over Dokdo." This petition has garnered over 63,000 signatures as of the 8th.

A survey also revealed that more than half of our citizens support a boycott of the Tokyo Olympics. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI) commissioned by TBS on the 5th and 6th among 1,009 people aged 18 and older nationwide, 67.6% of respondents supported a boycott. Among them, 50.6% were "strongly in favor," and 17.0% were "generally in favor."

One netizen stated, "I absolutely cannot attend an Olympics that blatantly claims Dokdo as Japanese territory. Attending such an Olympics would mean acknowledging Dokdo as Japanese territory. Missing one Olympics is not a big deal."

Experts analyzed that Japan is using the Olympics for political purposes.

Professor Lee Young-chae of Keisen Jogakuen University explained in an interview with TBS Radio's "Cheerful Current Affairs with Lee Seungwon" on the 4th, "From the planning stage of the Tokyo Olympics, Japan intended to allow the Rising Sun flag at the event and mark Dokdo as Japanese territory on maps, aiming for a nationalist and chauvinistic Olympics. There is a dual strategy to politically internationalize Dokdo by provoking Korea."

He added regarding the IOC's lack of active mediation, "The IOC is violating the Olympic spirit and must be strongly protested diplomatically."