Korean's
Island Dokdo consists of 34 islands created by the volcanic
activities about 4,600,000 years ago, the 3rd period
of the Cenozoic
Era.
The weather in this region
is mild and humid and raining all year around
with
average rainfall of 1,300mm. 5 different kinds of trees
and 36
plants grow wild, and rats, earthworms and
gulls are also inhabited
here. In 1982, the whole
Islands were designated as the Natural monument
No.336 including 3 natural living creatures such as
a fork-tailed pelter
and a black-tailed gull.
The History of Dokdo
According to the Samkooksaki(Historical
Record of Tree Kingdoms), Dokdo
was organized into
Korean territory in 512 AD, the same time as Shilla
Dynasty took over the Usan Kingdom. And in Mankiyoram,
Usan Kingdom's
sphere included Ullungdo Islands
and Dokdo Islands which meant Ullungdo
and Dokdo
were the territory of Usan Kingdom. At that time, Japan
called
Ullungdo as Jookdo(Bamboo Island), Dokdo
as Songdo(Pine Tree Island).
The Authentic Record
of the Great King Sejong of 1432 says that "Because
the distance between two Islands is not very far it
can be seen each
other by one's physical eyes, if
the weather is clear." This also
evidently
meant that these two Islands were included in the Korean
territory.
Through the Korean ancient documents
such as the History of Koryo, the
Authentic Record
of Chosun and the Authentic Record of the Great King
Sejong re-confirmed Dokdo was and is Korean territory.
In 1900, by the No. 41 Imperial Ordinance of Emperor
Kojong, the of
governor of Ullungdo was appointed
to rule the main Islands(Ullungdo)
and the Stone
Islands(Dokdo), later the president of Korea, Yi,
Shing-Man line was proclaimed in 1952.
Japanese
Acknowledgement of the Truth
Japanese historical
records of EunJuSiChengHabKi in 1667 acknowledged
Ullungdo and Dokdo as Korean Territory. And the report
of the Japanese
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan,
also clarified Dokdo as Chosun's
territory.
The Administrative Status of Dokdo
From 1953
to 1956, Hong, Sun-Chil, the leader of the Dokdo Voluntary
Guards and his 33 staff have resided in Dokdo, and Kim,
Sung-Jo(60
year-old) and his wife who moved their
legal resident registrations in
1991, resided since
then. The number of families who moved their
resident
registrations are 6 families of 28 persons by November
24, 1999
including singer Chong, Kwang-Tae, who
became famous with a song titled
"Dokdo is
Korean Territory".
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