Official Bill Proposed to Designate October 25 as Dokdo Day
Includes Monitoring Dokdo-Related Trends and Promoting History Education
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 21st, took the lead in proposing a bill to designate 'Dokdo Day' as a legal commemorative day. This aims to further solidify territorial sovereignty over Dokdo amid recent controversies regarding the 'Dokdo sovereignty' issue being raised at the Korea-Japan summit table.
On the same day, Lee announced the proposal of the 'Partial Amendment to the Act on the Sustainable Use of Dokdo.' The core of this bill is to officially designate October 25th every year as 'Dokdo Day.'
Although private organizations have held Dokdo Day events on October 25th, the bill emphasizes the need to establish Dokdo's identity and raise awareness of its importance by making it an official commemorative day.
Lee's office explained, "Despite the fact that Dokdo is clearly our country's territory as publicly announced domestically and internationally by Emperor Gojong's Imperial Decree No. 41 in 1900, the basic plan does not include provisions for the practical consolidation of Dokdo's territorial sovereignty or necessary responses to domestic and international situations related to Dokdo, highlighting the need for supplementation."
Besides the official designation of the commemorative day, the bill includes provisions to incorporate matters related to the consolidation of Dokdo's territorial sovereignty and the monitoring and response to domestic and international trends concerning Dokdo into the basic plan. It also encourages and supports history education to raise awareness of sovereignty recognizing Dokdo as our country's territory.
Lee stated, "Following the humiliating Korea-Japan summit, criticism has been raised that President Yoon Suk-yeol has failed to fulfill his constitutional responsibility to protect the territory and the lives of the people. Therefore, I have taken the lead in proposing this amendment bill to clearly affirm that Dokdo is the territory of the Republic of Korea and to establish Dokdo Day as a legal commemorative day for the sustainable use of Dokdo."
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