Research Trend of Japanese Dokdo-related Paleography and Examination of Materials

The recent result of Japanese research on Dokdo by paleography mostly negates the Inherent Territory Theory. However, the PR site of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and textbook inspected by the Japanese Ministry of Education clarified Inherent Territory Theory to teach to students. A brief review of this study is as follows. First, the northwest border of Japan recorded in Insyushicogoki (records of Eun province events) is Oki island. In 1625 the Takeshima-tokai-menkyo (License to cross the sea to Takeshima) was issued, a license to permit crossing to Matsushima-tokai-menkyo (License to cross the sea to Matsushima) did not exist, according to research by Ikeuch. Second, a reexamination of the materials on Ahn Yong-bok's statement is needed because Japanese research is suspicious about the credibility of the statement. Third, Dajyokan-Shirei (Order of the Governor) recorded Takeshima-hokaitto (Jukdo Island and one other island), in which Ulleungdo and Dokdo are the islands being referred to, but the contemporary Japanese Meiji government recognized that Dokdo was outside Japanese territory. Fourth, The Korean Imperial Ordinance No. 41 does not prove Seokdo (石島) as present Dokdo. Shimane Announcement No. 40 is effective if there is no evidence to prove practical domination by the Korean government before 1905. It is important to recognize the Dokdo research as a historic issue to protest Japanese inherent territory theory though Japanese studies turn focus to terra nullius theory, which would be the right way to justify Korean inherent territorial claims on Dokdo.