Analysis of claims by other countries

2. The ROK’s view that “Usan” in old Korean documents is Takeshima

　The ROK’s claim is as follows: <Quotation from MOFA-ROK’s pamphlet²>

P. 5
2 Geographical Recognition of Dokdo and Relevant Historical Evidence
A. Dokdo has been recognized geographically as a part of Ulleungdo.
On a clear day, Dokdo is visible to the naked eye from Ulleungdo (Ulleung Island), the island which lies in closest proximity (87.4 km) to Dokdo. Given its geographical location, Dokdo has historically been considered to be a part of Ulleungdo.
This is well evidenced in early Korean documents. For instance, the Joseon (Korean) government publication (1) Sejong Sillok Jiriji (Geography Section of the Annals of King Sejong’s Reign) (1454), which provides a geographical record of Korean territory, states, “Usan [Dokdo], Mureung [Ulleungdo] … The two islands are not far apart from each other and thus visible on a clear day.”
While there are numerous adjacent islands surrounding Ulleungdo, Dokdo is the only one visible to the naked eye from Ulleungdo on a clear day.

P. 6
B. Korean government publications record that Korea has long recognized Dokdo as Korean territory and exercised effective control over the island.
In the Joseon (Korean) government publication (2) Sejong Sillok Jiriji (Geography Section of the Annals of King Sejong’s Reign), 1454, it is recorded that Ulleungdo (Mureung) and Dokdo (Usan) are two islands that are part of Joseon’s Uljin-hyeon (Uljin prefecture). It is also recorded that the two islands had been territories of Usan-guk (Usan State), which was subjugated to Silla (former kingdom of Korea) in the early 6th century (AD 512), indicating that Korea’s effective control over Dokdo dates back to the Silla period.
Consistent records pertaining to Dokdo are also found in other governmental publications, including (3) Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam (Revised and Augmented Survey of the Geography of Korea), 1531; Dongguk Munheon Bigo (Reference Compilation of Documents on Korea), 1770; Man’gi Yoram (Manual of State Affairs for the Monarch), 1808; and Jeungbo Munheon Bigo (Revised and Enlarged Edition of the Reference Compilation of Documents on Korea), 1908.
Particularly noteworthy is the record in the volume “Yeojigo” in (4) Dongguk Munheon Bigo (Reference Compilation of Documents on Korea), 1770, which states, “Ulleung [Ulleungdo] and Usan [Dokdo] are both territories of Usan-guk [Usan State], and Usan [Dokdo] is what Japan refers to as Matsushima [the old Japanese name for Dokdo].” This passage makes it evident that Usando is the present-day Dokdo and that it is Korean territory. <Quotation ends.>

3. Sejong Sillok Jiriji and its article on Ulleungdo

　Sejong Sillok Jiriji is a geography book of eight provinces of Korea contained in Sejong Sillok (Annals of King Sejong’s Reign) (1454). King Sejong is the fourth king (1418-1450) of the Rhee family (Joseon Dynasty). Soon after his accession to the throne, the King ordered each Province to compile and submit a record of its geography.³ Gyeongsang-do Jiriji (Geography of Gyeongsang Province, 1425) (the only surviving Provincial geography) is an example. Then Sinchan Paldo Jiriji (Newly Edited Geography of Eight Provinces) was compiled in 1432, which became the basis of Sejong Sillok Jiriji.⁴ The article on “Usan, Mureung” in Sejong Sillok Jiriji is as follows: <For the original text, see Document 1.>

Usan, Mureung, two islands, are located in the sea due east of the [Uljin] prefecture. The two islands are not far apart, and they can be seen if the weather is clear. [They were c]alled Usan State in the Silla period. Another name is Ulleungdo. The land is a hundred ri [unit] square. Usan State had not submitted itself to Silla, relying on the steepness of the land. In the twelfth year of King Jijeung, Isabu became military commander of Haseulla province, and said, “The Usan people are intrepid. It is difficult to make them obey by force. We should rather make them give in by trickery.” He made many wooden beasts of prey, placed them on battle ships, sailed to the country, and deceivingly said that he would let the beasts go. The people of Usan State surrendered in fear. In the thirteenth year of Goryeo Taejo [the first King of Goryeo Kingdom], islanders Baekgil and Todu presented products [to the King]. In the thirteenth year of King Uijong, inspector Kim Yu-Rib and others returned and reported: “There is a big mountain on the island. From the top of the mountain to the sea it is 10,000 odd bo [unit of distance] eastwards, 13,000 odd bo westwards, 15,000 odd bo southwards, and 8,000 odd bo northwards. There are vestiges of village in seven places and are such relics as stone Buddhist images, iron bells and stone towers. Many Jaeho, hobon and seoknam-cho [medicinal plants] grow there. During the reign of Taejo of the present dynasty, the King, having heard that many people took refuge on the island, appointed Kim Rin-U of Samcheok as “Appeasing Officer” again, evacuated the inhabitants and made the island uninhabited. Rin-U said, “The land is fertile, a bamboo is big as a column, a rat is big as a cat, a peach is bigger than a measuring cup; this is how things are there.”

4. Interpretation that Takeshima is visible from Ulleungdo

　The validity of the ROK’s claims based on Sejong Sillok Jiriji is hereinafter examined.
　First, the assertion that Sejong Sillok Jiriji states, “Usan [Dokdo], Mureung [Ulleungdo] … The two islands are not far apart from each other and thus visible on a clear day” (section 2, underlined part (1) above) is a quotation from an article of Sejong Sillok Jiriji which states “Usan, Mureung, two islands, are located in the sea due east of the [Uljin] prefecture. The two islands are not far apart, and they can be seen if the weather is clear.” However, the “Dokdo” in square brackets (“Usan [Dokdo]”) is an interpretation made and inserted by the ROK, and was not in the original. A report from 1906 by Uldo county magistrate Sim Heung-Taek is the first Korean document in which the name Dokdo appears. Why, then, does the ROK interpret Usan to be Takeshima? The MOFA pamphlet explains that “while there are numerous adjacent islands surrounding Ulleungdo, Dokdo is the only one visible to the naked eye from Ulleungdo on a clear day.” That is, assuming one has the modern knowledge that Ulleungdo and Takeshima are in the sea to the east of the Korean Peninsula, since Sejong Sillok Jiriji states that there are two islands of Usan and Mureung and since Mureung is Ulleungdo, accordingly Usan must be Takeshima; although there are many islets around Ulleungdo, Takeshima is the only one which is visible from Ulleungdo on a clear day. (Other islets are located so near that they are visible from Ulleungdo on a daily basis.)