About Dokdo

In Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), compiled in 1145, it is written that Silla took ownership of Usan-guk in 512. In Sejong Sillok Jiriji (Geographical Records in the Annals of King Sejong), compiled in 1454, it is written that “the two islands of Usan [Dokdo] and Mureung [Ulleungdo] are not located far apart from each other so Dokdo is visible from Ulleungdo on a clear day”.

In Dongguk Munheon Bigo (Reference Compilation of Documents on Korea), compiled in 1770, it is written that “Ulleung and Usan are both territories of Usan-guk … Usan is what the Japanese refer to as Matsushima [name for Dokdo used by Japan]”. It can be confirmed that Usando is present-day Dokdo and was part of the territory Usan-guk.

There have been cases where the character U (于) in Usando was written incorrectly, leading to the island being called Jasando (子山島) or Cheonsando (千山島).

Haejwa Jeondo (created in the late 18th century)
*source: National Museum of Korea

In Jeongjo Sillok (Annals of King Jeongjo), compiled in 1805, there is a record that in 1794, a territorial protection official by the name of Han Chang-guk departed from Uljin on April 21, arrived at Ulleungdo the day after (April 22) and patrolled until April 25, then went to Gajido on April 26 and caught two sea lions.

At the time, many sea lions, called “Gaje” or “Gangchi”, lived on Dokdo, so the island was also called Gajido—a name that used Chinese characters to represent “Gaje”.

Even today, on the northwestern side of Dokdo, there are large flat rocks called Keungaje-bawi Rock (Big Sea Lion Rock) and Jageungaje-bawi Rock (Little Sea Lion Rock), where many sea lions used to live.

On October 25, 1900, the Korean Empire (Daehan Jeguk) ordered Imperial Decree No. 41, that “Seokdo (Dokdo) shall be placed under the jurisdiction of Uldo-gun (Uldo County)”.

Imperial Decree No. 41
*source: Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies, Seoul National University

At the time, Ulleungdo residents called Dokdo “Dolseom” or “Dokseom” based on its appearance.

In the Korean Language Dictionary (朝鮮語辭典) published by the Korean Language Dictionary Compilation Committee on July 10, 1938, the Korean word “dok (독)” is recorded as a dialect word for “dol (돌, stone)”. This confirms that “Dokdo” in Hangeul (독도) and “Seokdo” in Chinese characters (石島) follow the same word principle.

cover of the Korean Language Dictionary (1938) and the section under “Dok”
*source: National Library of Korea

In Joseon Jiji Jaryo (朝鮮地誌資料), a geographic reference compiled in 1914 by the Japanese Government-General of Korea, based on surveys of Korea’s geographical information conducted in 1911, there are other examples where place names using the Chinese character for stone (石), like Seoksan (石山) and Seokgol (石谷), were written in Korean as Doksan and Dokgol, just like Dokdo (石島).

Examples of place names where the Chinese character ‘石’ (meaning “stone”) is
written as ‘독’ in Korean, such as 石山 (Doksan), 石谷 (Dokgol), and 石島 (Dokdo).
Quoted from Joseon Jiji Jaryo, Jeollanam-do Volume 3-1 (Volume 6), Mokpojugun (木浦廚郡)
*source: National Library of Korea

On June 13, 1948, it was reported in the newspaper article that the name “Dokdo” originated from “Dolseom (stone island, 石島)”.

Hanseong Ilbo “Dokdo is our island, original name is Dolseom”
*source: Korea Newspaper Archive, National Library of Korea

In 1906, Sim Heung-taek, the county magistrate of Uldo-gun, learned from Japanese visitors to Ulleungdo that Japan had illegally incorporated Dokdo into its territory in 1905. The next day, he wrote a report and sent it to the Uijeongbu (State Council) through the governor (gwanchalsa) of Gangwon-do. In the report, he wrote “Dokdo, which is under the jurisdiction of this country”, showing that the name “Dokdo” was used at the time. This also confirms that Dokdo continued to be part of Uldo-gun, as stated in Imperial Decree No. 41 (1900), and reaffirms Korea’s territorial sovereigny over Dokdo.

The report by Shim Heung-taek, delivered through Acting Governor Yi Myeong-rae,
and the directive from the Vice Prime Minister of the Uijeongbu in response
*source: Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies, Seoul National University

The name “Dokdo” is the official name widely used in all areas of the Korean government, including legal, administrative and geographical information, as well as by the international community.

In 1849, people on the French whaling ship Le Liancourt discovered Dokdo and named the island after the ship. In 1857, the French Navy also referred to the island as Rochers Liancourt.

Unfortunately, the name Liancourt began to spread widely in the West since then, and even today, there are many cases overseas where the name is used.

In 1854, people on the Russian ship Olivutsa (Опивуца), part of the navy frigate Pallada (Фрегат Паллада), discovered Dokdo and drew an illustration of the island. Based on this information, the Russian Navy’s Hydrographic Service published a map of Korea titled East Coast of Korea (Восточный берег полуострова Кореи).

East Coast of Korea (1857)
*source: Northeast Asian History Foundation

In this map, Dokdo was divided into its two main islets—Dongdo (East Island) and Seodo (West Island)—for the first time in the West. Dongdo was labeled Menelai (Менелай) and Seodo was labeled Olivutsa (Опивуца).

In 1855, people on the British corvette Hornet discovered Dokdo and named it Hornet Island after the ship.

In Records on Observations in Oki Province (隱州視聽合記, Inshu Shicho Gakki), one of the earliest Japanese texts published in 1667, Dokdo is written as Matsushima (松嶋). It is a record left by a Japanese official by the name of Saito Hosen (齋藤豊仙), who saw Dokdo and Ulleungdo while drifting at sea. It is written, “Inshu [Oki Islands] shall mark Japan’s northwesternmost boundary”.

*reference: Ulleung Grand Culture Encyclopedia

After that, in other Japanese maps and documents including Tottori-han’s Submission (鳥取藩答弁書, 1695), Memorandum on the Arrival of a Vessel from Joseon in 1696 (元祿九丙子年 朝鮮舟着岸 一卷之覺書, 1696), Revised Complete Map of Japanese Lands and Roads (改正日本與地路程全圖, 1779), Confidential Inquiry into the Particulars of Relations with Joseon (朝鮮國交際始末內探書, 1870), Dajokan Order (太政官 指令, 1877), Simplified Map of Isotakeshima (磯竹島略図, 1877), Dokdo was recorded as Matsushima (松島 or 松嶋) and Ulleungdo was recorded as Takeshima (竹島 or 竹嶋).

In the late 19th century, influenced by Western maps that labeled Dokdo as Liancourt, Japan also referred to Dokdo as Yanko Island (ヤンコ島) or Liancourt Rocks (リアンクルド岩).

In 1903, in the Guidlines for Fisheries in the Korean Sea (韓海通漁指針) by the Black Dragon Society (黒龍会), a right-wing organization of Japanese imperialism, it recognizes Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo) as part of Ulleungdo.

In 1904, in the Daily Operation Records of the Niitaka (軍艦新高行動日誌), Imperial Japanese Navy Warship Cruiser, it was recorded as follows: “Information provided by people who saw Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo) from Matsushima (Ulleungdo) … Liancourt Rocks are written as Dokdo by Koreans, whereas they are called Liancourt Rocks by Japanese fishermen”.

Japan had originally called Dokdo Matsushima (松島 or 松嶋) and Ulleungdo Takeshima (竹島 or 竹嶋). However, in the late 19th century, under the influence of Western maps, confusion arose regarding the information and names of Dokdo and Ulleungdo. As a result, Japan reversed the names—referring to Dokdo as Takeshima (竹島) and Ulleungdo as Matsushima (松島).

In 1905, during the Russo-Japanese War, Japan attempted to secretly and illegally incorporate Dokdo—Korean territory both then and now—for military purposes in order to monitor the Russian fleet, and bean calling it Takeshima (竹島).