Korean Job Discussion Forums

[12ax7]

[fermentation]

[The Grumpy Senator]

In a nutshell:

Prior to Japanese occupation of Korea, a great number of western maps referred to the body of water as the Corean Sea or Sea of Corea. Most of these maps were of French or British origin. Some of these maps still reside in Cambridge University and the Sorbonne in Paris. Some maps have been brought to Korea and can be seen in museums around the country.

During the occupation, the Japanese changed the name of all "inherited" geography.

Since Japan, around the turn of the 20th century, was the first Asian nation to "westernize," the terms the Japanese used for many places was adopted. Korea attempted to register the name Sea of Corea, but was told they were not recognized since they were under the "protection" of the Japanese.

East Sea is an attempt at compromise with the Japanese (not using either country's name in the title). Do not forget, the body of water is not only east of Korea, it is east of all of Asia, including China (who will make their voice heard).

Many Koreans feel the name Sea of Japan is a reminder of the brutal occupation of their country. Keeping the name is seen as accepting the occupation and, in some ways, honoring it.

I have heard, "What difference does it make what it is called in English?" Well the US Geological Survey is the recognized authority in these cases and what they determine as the rightful name is to be used world-wide in maps. You might notice that many maps you can buy here in Korea have the English names printed on them. So it makes a huge difference what it is called in English.

As westerners, we have no clue what it feels like to have our homeland under the control of brutal oppressor. We cannot put ourselves in their shoes in order to understand the deep resentment many people still have over the way their grandparents and fellow countrymen and women were treated.

I am not trying to convince anyone of anything; I just feel that people should understand the argument before making comments that make them look dumb. Look over the evidence and come to your own conclusion. Just do not make ridiculous comments like, "the US should demand it be the Gulf of America" because those type comments show you did not bother to look at the topic and let your personal feelings about a people cloud your views. We, as educators should know better.

[transmogrifier]

[DIsbell]

TGS: is a 'great number' of maps a majority (or at least significant) proportion or simply a somewhat large number?

Either way, you make a decent case and I guess I learned something today. But I'm still not really convinced, for a few reasons. I don't quite agree with your assessment of the name being a compromise, because it's a direct translation of what Korea has always called it (they didn't really coin the term out of compromise, though the fact that it doesn't mention either country does seem compromise-y). Also, there are other names of geographic features in the world that wouldn't align quite with what certain groups might desire, but those who speak the language generally get to decide what they want to call things.

As and aside, you're painting with an awfully broad brush when you say Westerners don't know what it's like to have their land under control of an oppressor. In the American context I'm sure there are a good number of posters here with Hispanic or Native American backgrounds, as well as a few Europeans who aren't from England.

[everything-is-everything]

[sml7285]

[Steelrails]

Obviously Korea and Japan should just get together and sell the naming rights to the highest bidder.

Kanihara Fishworks Sea or AIG Sea or the Sea of Frito-Lay.

Problem solved AND people get money.

[Reggie]

[Son Deureo!]

[Reggie]

[transmogrifier]

[fermentation]

[Savant]

Korea's nationalist argument to rename the "Sea of Japan" to the "East Sea" falls short to me for these two reasons:

1) Many historical maps have listed the body of water as the "Sea of Japan" prior to Japan's occupation of Korea; and

2) There is a better case to rename it as the "Sea of Korea" as many more historical maps show it named as this [Sea of Corea] and not "East Sea"

[yodanole]

Bombay was not renamed. Mumbai reflects a different system of Romanization of the Hindi alphabet. Pusan was not renamed either. It was "re-Romanized".