Search Results Vary by Region in Korea, the US, and Japan
When searching for 'Dokdo' in English using Microsoft's (MS) search engine 'Bing,' it was revealed that explanations employing terms used by Japan to deny South Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo appear.
As a result of searching for Dokdo in the US using MS Bing, it is introduced as a Japanese island along with the name Liancourt Rocks. [Image source=Captured from Professor Seo Kyung-deok's SNS]
On the 21st, Professor Seokyung Deok of Sungshin Women's University stated via social media (SNS), "A major issue has occurred in Microsoft's (MS) 'Bing' app, which is widely used by netizens worldwide," adding, "When searching for 'Dokdo' in English from the United States, the main result shows 'Liancourt Rocks,' and the description introduces it as 'Japanese islands.' 'Liancourt Rocks' is named after the French whaling ship 'Liancourt' that discovered Dokdo, and the Japanese government has mainly used this term on the international stage to deny Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo."
Professor Seokyung Deok explained, "When searching for 'Dokdo' in English from Japan, the main result shows 'Takeshima' (竹島, the name Japan claims for Dokdo), and the description states it is 'an island in the Sea of Japan disputed between Korea and Japan.' Dokdo is historically, geographically, and under international law clearly Korean territory, so it is not a disputed or contested area with Japan at all." He continued, "When using MS Bing in Korea to search for 'Dokdo' in English, the result shows 'Dokdo' in Hangul, and the description says it is a 'rock in the East Sea.'
Professor Seokyung Deok emphasized, "There was a case where the Russian version of Wikipedia, 'Ruwiki,' described Dokdo as a disputed area with Japan, but after protests, it was correctly changed to 'Dokdo belongs to Korea.' We will also send a protest email to MS, urging a prompt correction so that netizens can obtain accurate information about Dokdo."
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