To Japanese right-wing media claiming "Dokdo is Japanese territory"... Seogyeongdeok says "Closure is the answer"

Sankei Claims "South Korea's Illegal Occupation of Dokdo Violates Sovereignty"
Seo Kyung-duk Responds: "Media Outlets That Only Mislead Public Opinion Should Be Shut Down"

Japan has once again asserted that Dokdo is Japanese territory on the occasion of "Takeshima Day," established by the local government of Shimane Prefecture, which is a Japanese claim to Dokdo. In response, Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University strongly criticized the Japanese media for making groundless claims, saying they should "be shut down."

Dokdo Yonhap News

On the 23rd, Professor Seo targeted the Japanese far-right media outlet Sankei Shimbun on his social media (SNS), strongly criticizing it by saying, "Media outlets that try to mislead domestic public opinion without proper evidence should be shut down altogether."

Professor Seo pointed out, "Sankei has always claimed that Dokdo is Japanese territory but has never presented proper evidence," adding, "First, find out who created the 'Taijokan Directive' and what it contains, then determine historically whose land Dokdo is."

The Taijokan Directive is a document created in March 1877 by the Taijokan (太政官), the highest administrative body of the Japanese Meiji government. It clearly states that Ulleungdo and Dokdo have no relation to Japan.

Earlier, in an editorial, Sankei Shimbun stated “More than 70 years have passed since South Korea illegally occupied (Dokdo), but historically and under international law, Takeshima is Japan’s inherent territory,” and claimed, “It is a clear violation of sovereignty and absolutely cannot be tolerated.”

It also asked, “The Northern Territories Day (February 7) was established by the Japanese government, so why is Takeshima Day still established only by Shimane Prefecture?” and urged, “The anniversary should be established at the central government level.”

Shimane Prefecture announced the incorporation of Dokdo into its administrative district on February 22, 1905, and unilaterally established this day as Takeshima Day in 2005, holding commemorative events annually since 2006.

The Japanese government has dispatched a political official equivalent to a vice minister from South Korea to the Takeshima Day events since 2013, right after the inauguration of the second Abe Shinzo Cabinet.