"Remove 'Dokdo is Japanese territory' notation," Seok Kyung-deok protests to Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee

Current map of Japan on the Tokyo Olympics website marking Dokdo with a small dot (left), and an example map showing the correct way to mark Dokdo provided to the Japanese side. Photo by Seokyeongdeok, Professor at Sungshin Women's University, Facebook

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim So-young] Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University announced on the 28th that he sent a protest email to Seiko Hashimoto, Chairperson of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, and the organizing committee regarding the depiction of Dokdo.

In the email, Professor Seo pointed out, "Dokdo is clearly South Korean territory geographically, historically, and under international law, but depicting Dokdo as Japanese territory on the Tokyo Olympics website is an act that violates the Olympic spirit."

He added, "Delete the depiction of Dokdo immediately before suffering further global embarrassment," and warned, "If you try to promote another country's territory as your own through the Olympics, you do not deserve to host the Olympics."

It is reported that he also sent rebuttal materials against Japan's claims regarding Dokdo and a sample map showing the correct notation for the wrongly depicted Dokdo.

Earlier, Professor Seo discovered last week that Dokdo was depicted as Japanese territory on the Tokyo Olympics website and requested corrections regarding the depiction of Dokdo from Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and all 205 IOC member countries except South Korea.

However, a week later, the IOC responded by providing the email address of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee and advised to inquire with the Japanese side.

Choi Young-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing on the 27th, "Dokdo is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically, and under international law," and added, "Japan's depiction of Dokdo as Japanese territory on the Tokyo Olympics website is absolutely unacceptable from this perspective."

On the 24th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded immediate correction of the Tokyo Olympics map through the Embassy of Japan in Korea, but the Japanese government maintains its existing position of non-acceptance. As a result, voices advocating a 'Tokyo Olympics boycott' have emerged in some political circles.

Meanwhile, during the last PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Japan protested the depiction of Dokdo on the Korean Peninsula flag, and following IOC recommendations, South Korea used a Korean Peninsula flag without Dokdo.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.