Kenichi Ohmae on Dodkdo 독도는한국땅 입니다!!

I read with great interest in yesterday's Chosun Ilbo English edition that Kenichi Ohmae, Japan's well-known management expert and futurologist suggests Japan should recognize Korea's effective control of Dokdo. In a Japanese weekly publication, Omae said no nation which failed to occupy territory effectively has obtained it through dialogue between parties concerned or UN arbitration. Everybody knows that a war, the only means possible, is not suitable as a way to solve the Dokdo issue. For a moment, I thought that this was going to be an enlightened statement on the issue by a well-known person from Japan. Then I read that Ohmae had stressed Japan should "continue claim" over the islets, while recognizing Korea's effective occupation, but without criticizing or irritating Korea. He further suggested that, in the future it was necessary “to expand the East Asian economic sphere by skillfully pulling China and Korea into it." Japan, he wrote, "should build a hypothetical great power in the future, when the meaning of national territories will become blurred." What this amounts to, in part, is that Ohmae is suggesting Japan can lay claim to Dokdo in cyberspace. What else will Japan lay claim to in the future? What about the future of history? In one sense the information age may blur the meaning of national territories or boundaries, but at the same time it will offer an opportunity to preserve and protect the memories and history of what actually happened over the past several centuries and more.

Dokdo and Cyber Diplomacy: YouTube Exchanges

While the real-world political war over Dokdo may be entering into a lull of sorts, the exchanges taking place over YouTube have picked up pace.    The following is an interesting version of Arirang as commentary on Dokdo.

More on Dokdo and Cyber Diplomacy 독도는 한국땅 이라!

George W. Bush made one of the smartest moves of his presidency by clearly siding with Korea on the matter of Dokdo. In an important sense, he had no choice. History is also on the side of Korea. An interesting part of South Korea's diplomatic offensive in cyber-space can be seen on YouTube. Many Koreans and others who support Korea's case have posted videos. I really liked the following song and video by 박명수. It is worth your time to view it, even if you don't understand all of the Korean lyrics. After all Dokdo is Korean land!

"Stop Island Theft" Campaign in New York City

Today's English edition of the Chosun Ilbo carried this image of a life-size figure of a thief,wearing a Japanese flag as a mask.  The sign reads "Stop island theft.  Japan attempts to steal Asia's islands by distorting history."   It is part of a guerrilla advertising campaign by Yi Je-seok.   I think it also illustrates the powerful use of an image.

Photos Show that Dokdo is Visible from Ulleungdo

As further support for my posting on Dokdo and Cyber-Diplomacy, the English edition of the Joongang Ilbo today published a short article describing how several people have actually photographed Dokdo from Ulleungdo, using an ordinary camera lense.  One of those photos accompanied the article and is published here.  Dokdo is about 47 miles from Ulleungdo.  According to the article, Korean government records written during the Joseon Dynasty, including “Geography of the Sejong-Sillok,” written in 1454, and “Geography of Goryeo History,” written in 1451 include phrases that people “could see Dokdo from Ulleung Island on a clear day.” 
Finally, for further information about Dokdo, checkout the "Cyber Dokdo" site maintained by the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government.    A very nicely done web site.