"Expose the Historical Falsehood of Japan's Dokdo Incorporation Claim" ... Academic Conference at Yeungnam University

The Dokdo Research Institute at Yeungnam University (Director Professor Choi Jae-mok) will hold an academic conference on the 26th at the Yeungnam University Law Library Video Conference Room under the theme "Interdisciplinary Study on the Illegality of Dokdo Incorporation in 1905." This event is organized to conduct academic rebuttals and international legal reviews of Japan's territorial claims over Dokdo, marking 120 years since Japan claimed to have incorporated Dokdo into Shimane Prefecture on February 22, 1905.

At this academic conference, Professor Park Ji-young (Yeungnam University Dokdo Research Institute) will present on "A Historical Review of Japan's Process of Incorporating Dokdo," Professor Oh Si-jin (Kangwon National University Law School) will discuss "Colonialism and the International Legal Doctrine of Prior Occupation," Professor Choi Ji-hyun (Jeju National University Law School) will reexamine "Critiques on the 1905 Shimane Prefecture Notice," and Dr. Hong Sung-geun (Northeast Asian History Foundation Dokdo Research Institute) will explore "The Legal Nature of Japan's Territorial Incorporation Measures of Dokdo."

Yeungnam University campus view

Notably, this year marks the 20th anniversary of Shimane Prefecture designating "Takeshima Day," and amid the Japanese government's distortion of historical facts and intensified provocations over Dokdo, discussing countermeasures is a key goal of the conference. From 2024, Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has mandated that social studies textbooks for elementary, middle, and high schools describe Dokdo as "Japan's inherent territory" and teach that Korea is illegally occupying it. Additionally, since 2008, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has distributed "10 Points to Understand the Takeshima Issue" in multiple languages to strengthen international public opinion campaigns regarding Dokdo.

Choi Jae-mok, Director of Yeungnam University Dokdo Research Institute, stated, "Japan's distorted education on Dokdo undermines cooperation in East Asia and leaves historical conflicts for future generations," emphasizing, "This academic conference will clearly demonstrate that Japan's 1905 incorporation of Dokdo is illegal under international law and historically fictitious." He also pledged to establish an academic foundation confirming Dokdo as the clear inherent territory of the Republic of Korea through continuous activation of Dokdo research and strengthening international cooperation.

Meanwhile, prior to the academic conference, an award ceremony will be held for the "Dokdo Research Paper Contest" conducted by the Dokdo Research Institute for graduate students. In this contest, Chae Song-a and Lee Jeong-min (Yeungnam University Graduate School) won the grand prize, and Kim Young-geun (Wonkwang University Graduate School) received the encouragement award. This contest aims to discover emerging scholars in Dokdo research and promote research activation.