Multiple Bills to Establish 'Dokdo Day' Introduced in National Assembly
"Concerns Over Disputed Territory" Moon Administration's "Careful Review" Opinion
"Opposition's 169 Seats Swayed Like Media Reports"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has proposed a bill to designate 'Dokdo Day' as a legal commemorative day. This appears to be an intensification of diplomatic offensives against Japan by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, but the ruling party criticized it as politicizing Dokdo, pointing out that the bill was opposed during the Moon Jae-in administration.
On the 21st, Lee Jae-myung officially proposed the "Partial Amendment to the Act on the Sustainable Use of Dokdo." The amendment stipulates that October 25, Dokdo Day, should be designated as an official commemorative day under the law to express the will to protect Dokdo.
Currently, 'Dokdo Day' was established in 2000 by the private organization Dokdo Protection Corps and is not a national commemorative day. The Dokdo Protection Corps designated this day to commemorate October 25, 1900, when Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire declared Dokdo as an affiliated island of Ulleungdo under Imperial Decree No. 41.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the launch meeting of the Task Force for Responding to the Four Major Livelihood Crises held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
Several bills related to the establishment of Dokdo Day have been proposed in the National Assembly over the years. During the 18th and 19th National Assembly sessions, five member-initiated bills regarding the establishment of Dokdo Day were proposed but all were discarded. In October 2021, during the Moon Jae-in administration, People Power Party lawmakers Kim Byung-wook and Kim Sang-hoon each proposed bills to designate Dokdo Day as a national commemorative day, but these remain pending in the National Assembly.
At that time, government ministries related to Dokdo expressed cautious review opinions on the amendment bills due to concerns that it could lead to the internationalization of Dokdo as a disputed territory, aligning with Japan's intentions. A December 2021 review report by the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee stated, "Although the legislative intent of the two amendment bills is understandable, there are concerns about the internationalization of Dokdo as a disputed territory and the triggering of international legal disputes," and added, "Considering the opinions of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and related government ministries comprehensively, careful review is necessary."
In response, the opposition criticized Lee Jae-myung for using Dokdo as a political tool. They argue that Lee, who was indicted without detention over the Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town development corruption and Seongnam FC sponsorship allegations, is attempting to shift the focus by raising the Dokdo issue and launching an anti-Japan offensive to deflect his judicial risks.
Yoo Sang-beom, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, said in a statement on the 22nd, "The Moon Jae-in administration's position was that it was undesirable from a diplomatic strategic perspective because there was a possibility that the international community would perceive Dokdo as a territorial dispute area between Korea and Japan," adding, "At that time, the Democratic Party, which was the ruling party under the Moon Jae-in administration, clearly opposed designating Dokdo Day as a legal commemorative day."
He continued, "Despite the existence of a similar bill pending for two years, the reason Lee Jae-myung submitted the bill again under his own name is clearly because he is more interested in the political gain of 'Jukchangga' than the sincere prayer of 'protecting Dokdo,'" criticizing, "He is wielding his overwhelming 169-seat majority like a trump card."
Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk explained the criticism that "what is right now was wrong then" by stating that there are differences in conditions and the content of the bill between then and now.
On the 22nd, on YTN Radio's "News Frontline," he said, "If the situation and conditions were exactly the same, the same judgment could be made. However, I understand that there are differences in various conditions and the content of the bill (regarding Lee Jae-myung's proposal on Dokdo Day)," adding, "When discussing this bill, past review reports on previously proposed bills will also be referenced, and at the same time, the current diplomatic situation will be considered for in-depth discussion in the National Assembly."
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