Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gord]

[matko]

On a practical note,

The Koreans effectively control the islands and refuse to go to an international court to settle the issue.

Does Japan have any recourse? Can they 'sue' the Korean government in a court that is binding? If not, the issue is dead.

[My 2 Cent]

There is a similar dispute going on (with much less volume, and pissyfits) in Europe over a big piece of quartz grantite, known simply as "Rockall".

Ireland, the UK, Iceland, and even Denmark claim the territory, and the British moved to annex it in 1972.
Greenpeace even occupied it in 1997.

A boundary agreement was drawn up between Ireland and the UK, but the matter is still unresolved.

The dispute is striking in similarity to the Tokdo dispute, but the way it's handled is quite different.

Rockall lies in the Atlantic, and it's waters are actually in prime territory for gas and oil exploration. A good agruement could be made about Irish claims, as it's closer to Ireland than any other of the above nations -- especially Denmark(?!).

Also, with respect to Korea, Ireland has more reason to be bitter and twisted over continued 800+ years of colonial rule, losing a quarter of it's population in one the world's worst humanatarian disasters of the 19th century, and even losing it's own historical language (that took 700 years to wipe out). However it hasn't turned out that way.

Although Irish nationalism is still strong today, I think there is now a certain maturity in our dealing with it compared to the Koreans.

Why don't Koreans focus on closer economic ties, and co-operation instead of petty squabbles over rocks, and sea titles, which have no real bearing on the big picture?

This flag for Rockall would keep everyone happy
Maybe we could design a Tokdo one for the Koreans and Japanesse?

[yodanole]

The old French maps also show the surrounding body of water as the "Sea of Japan". That settles it for me.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

[Gwangjuboy]

[The Lemon]

He didn't say "disputed in a legal context". He said "disputed". Both South Korea and Japan lay claim to it. Thus, it's disputed, regardless of whether it's currently before any international court or arbitrator.

The South Koreans are playing a game with the word - if they admit the islands are "disputed" - which they are - they'll have to defend their claim, and they know their claim isn't quite as airtight as they profess. Instead they're using the "la la la I can't hear you" strategy, in the hopes that eventually the Japanese will give up.

Actually, the dispute is politically useful for some on both sides. It's a couple rocks - and yes, fishing rights - that have been elevated into symbols of national dignity. Nationalism for political purposes.

[Gwangjuboy]

[peppermint]

Yesterday I had a class of middle schoolers, and because it was close to the holidays and we'd been working hard, I let them try a little freetalking.

Their first question: "Teacher, who owns Dokdo?"
my answer : "Canada does, silly."

I've gotta ask what sort of propaganda are they teaching these kids? My university students can't seem to get passionate about anything or anyone, yet this group got pretty heated over what ammounts to a border dispute.

[Gord]

Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia.

[Ilsanman]

Korea won't go to a world court because they have no confidence in their own case. They know they will lose.

I would say most of the dispute comes from the bitter feelings from Japan.
They feel disrespected by Japan (rightfully so) and envious at times (also rightfully so). Losing even a tiny piece of land would enrage the whole Korean population.

[mithridates]

I do the same thing; I tell them that Dokdo is mine, and that historically, geographically, as well as spiritually, that it is my land, uncontested. Otherwise we fight. I also made some fake documents to prove it. Here they are:



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[tokki]

Seriously, this is another case of Japanese evil. They think the whole world is theirs.

[Gwangjuboy]

[tokki]

Korea never launched any invasions. Japan is evil.