Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

Hollo Arirang:
A Dokdo Chorus

Authors: Chanha Kim, Kyu Lee, Minhee Cho, and Bethany Riley
Supervising Teacher: Dr. Sun-Kwang Bae
Monterey Korean School

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

Abstract
This paper explores the validity (or invalidity) of the Japanese argument on Dokdo in the
territorial dispute between Korea and Japan. In addition to historical and logical observation of the dispute,
the thesis emphasizes on the importance of Han, the representative Korean sentiment, most commonly
aroused by foreign invasion; in this case, Japanese imperialist colonialism in early 20th century, when
Japan forcibly and illegally annexed Korea for 35 years. Dokdo was the first prey of Japanese occupation
and when Koreans see Dokdo, they feel Han, as featured in the song Hollo Arirang. This paper also
suggests solutions to the issue, one of which includes the presentation of information from each side to an
unbiased third party, unconnected to Korea and Japan. In addition, this paper specifically addresses how
Korean Americans, utilizing their diversity, can play an effective role in possible solutions for the dispute.

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction....1
1st Verse of Hollo Arirang.........1
Dokdo in Geography and Nature...2
Dokdo in History........3
2nd Verse of Hollo Arirang....6
On the Invalidity of Japanese Arguments on Dokdo. ...7
Suggested Solutions.....11
Conclusion.......13
3rd Verse of Hollo Arirang.......14
Reference List..................15
Appendix: Original Lyrics of Hollo Arirang....................16

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

Introduction

Lo, yonder East Sea of Korea, the lone islets,

Standing tall against gusty winds as always has been.
Thou pretty faces being swept by the wind,
Dokdo, dear, I bid morning to you, every night over.
Arirang Arirang, Hollo Arirang
Arirang ridges, let us climb over.
Tired we may get; then well rest on the way
Hand in hand, shall we tread, on and on and on.
[Translation from original lyrics: Chanha Kim; see Appendix for Korean]

Thus goes the first verse of Hollo Arirang, the youngest of Arirang, the lyrical folk song in
the Republic of Korea, which the UNESCO inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural
Heritage of Humanity in 2012.
The thematic motif of Hollo Arirang is Dokdo, or the lone island. The title word Hollo, of
Hollo Arirang in Korean, means lone, alone, in solitude, or by oneself. This itself describes and
symbolizes the Dokdo Island, which, from time immemorial, has been standing alone in the open sea of
the Korean peninsula: closer to Korea than to Japan. The song carries in it Han, a Korean national
sentiment, like all other Arirang versions. This specific version of Arirang sings about Dokdo,
expressing both North and South Koreans' emotions towards the issue.
The authors of this paper encountered Hollo Arirang among many other abundant sources
relevant to Dokdo when seeking answers to the research question of this thesis: Are the Japanese
arguments on Dokdo, or their Takeshima, valid at all? Not only will this paper address the issues,
especially the major ones, raised by the Japanese, but at the same time, will caution the Japanese against
their nostalgia for the expansionist, and therefore inhumane, colonialism. In a way to inculcate the

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

righteousness in the Japanese, this paper will sing in chorus, Hollo Arirang along with its logical
arguments.
The new folk song, Hollo Arirang, is a modern version of the traditional Arirang. All
versions of Arirang express the Korean peoples Han, or sorrow, which is a common descriptive term
for Korean national sentiment. Sean Fern writes in his journal article that, Koreans feel an emotional
need to anchor their modern day policies to recollections of former Japanese occupation and conduct.
This view is manifested in the idea of Han, which represents a combination of resentment, regret and
renewed suffering. Han influences how Koreans reflect on the past and often stimulates the desire to
revive past events as bargaining chips when dealing with Japanese businesses and government officials
(79).
For over a century, Japan has been claiming that Dokdo, or Takeshima as they call it, belongs to
them. However, there are plenty of evidences and reasons that prove as to why Dokdo belongs to Korea.
This research seeks to illuminate those evidences and reasons. It will also suggest how the younger
Korean generation can contribute to the solution of the Dokdo dispute being raised.

Dokdo in Geography and Nature

Dokdo is a small island located in the East Sea between Korea and Japan. It is called Takeshima
by the Japanese and known as the Liancourt Rocks internationally, a name given by French whalers in
the mid-1800s and called by neutral observers to this day (Fern 78). The exact location of Dokdo is at 37
14 26.8 N and 131 52 10.4 E. It is 87 km from Ulleungdo, or Ulleung Island, in Korea; 158 km from
the Oki Islands in Japan. Dokdo is made up of two smaller islands and 90 other small islets. The two
islands are called Dongdo and Seodo, which respectively mean East Island and West Island. Dongdo has
an area of 73,300 m2 and Seodo has an area of 88,640 m2. In total, Dokdo covers 187,450 m2, with its
highest point at about 170 m on Seodo.

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

Map of Dokdo [Drawn by Chanha Kim]

Dokdo has an interesting ecosystem, created long ago from volcanic activity. Dokdo, now
inactive, has many types of volcanic rocks. Its volcanic surface is covered with topsoil, creating a unique
mixture of soil and volcanic rock, home to 80 species of plants, 37 species of insects, and 22 species of
birds (Republic of Korea, Ministry of Environment). An interesting aspect of Dokdos ecosystem is its
diverse marine community. Over 100 species of fish and sea mammals live in Dokdo.

Dokdo in History
Sources exist in both Korea and in Japan regarding the Dokdo identity, including some crude
maps in favor of Dokdo belonging to Korea.
The history of Dokdo dates back to 512 CE. At this time, Shilla, one of the Three Kingdoms on
the Korean peninsula, conquered Usanguk. Usanguk was a country made up of small islands in Koreas
East Sea. The two major islands of Usanguk were Ulleungdo and Usando, now known as Dokdo. Usando
was considered part of Ulleungdo, and therefore, acknowledged as part of Korea. Since Shilla conquered
Usanguk, Usando (Dokdo) and Ulleungdo had become a part of Shilla.

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

Many historical Korean texts talk about or mention Dokdo. For example, according to Dokdo,
Koreas Beautiful Island by Koreas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji
Seungnam (1531) says, Usando*Ulleungdo / They are also called Mureung or Ureung. The two islands
are located in the middle of the sea due directly east of the hyeon [Uljin prefecture]. Dongguk Munheon
Bigo (1770) says, Usando [Dokdo] / Ulleungdo / Together, these two islands comprise Usan
According to Yeojiji [Geography of Korea], it is said that Ulleung and Usan are both territories of Usanguk and that Usan is what the Japanese refer to as Matsushima [old Japanese name for Dokdo] (6).
In the Chosun Dynasty, during 1693, Korean fishermen met with Japanese fishermen from the
Ohya and Murakawa families of the Tottori clan. The Japanese fishermen were illegally fishing in
Ulleungdo, which belonged to Chosun, or present-day Korea. A Korean fisherman named Ahn Yong-bok
reported this illegality to the Chosun government. Ahns report sparked a bilateral negotiation between
Chosun and Japan at a government level. In 1695, the Edo shogunate asked the Tottori clan on whether
Ulleungdo and Dokdo were considered Japanese land. In response, the Tottori clan replied that Japan had
nothing to do with the two islands. Following this development, the Edo shogunate prohibited Japanese
fishermen from going to Ulleungdo.
In the late 19th century, Koreans began to protest, claiming that the Japanese were fishing near
Dokdo and Ulleungdo once again. The Japanese conducted research on the area and decided that Dokdo
and Ulleungdo were Korean territory. In 1881, the Japanese officially prohibited their sailors from
travelling toward the islands. Soon after, Korea got rid of the vacant island policy and began to develop
the islands.
In 1905, Japan incorporated Dokdo into their Shimane prefecture. At this time, Japan was at war
with Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. The war was about the mastery of Korea and Manchuria. This
was their first step towards conquering and colonizing Chosun, or Daehanjeguk (Korea). Five years later,
in 1910, Japan took over Chosun and its illegal occupation of the area continued until 1945. For 35 years,
the Korean peninsula, including Dokdo, was annexed to Japan by colonial force. During this time,
Koreans lost everything to the Japanese. Extreme hardship was faced upon Korean women, many of who

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

were drafted as sex slaves (in euphemism, comfort women) to Japanese soldiers during World War II. In
1945, the Koreans gained independence from Japan.
From 1939 to 1945, the Japanese fought in World War II. The Cairo Declaration of 1943 states
that, Japan will also be expelled from all other territories which she has taken by violence and greed
(Na 8). Later in 1945, the Potsdam Declaration states that, The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be
carried out (Republic of Korea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade 11). In 1951, the final version of
the San Francisco Peace Treaty states, Japan, recognizing the independence of Korea, renounces all right,
title and claim to Korea, including the islands of Quelpart [Jejudo], Port Hamilton [Geomundo] and
Dagelet [Ulleungdo] (Republic of Korea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade 28).
In 1952, former President Syngman Rhee established the Syngman Rhee Line or the Peace
Line, an imaginary line running 60 nautical miles off the Korean Coast. Professor Hosaka Yuji of Sejong
University states in his article, A Study on the Legitimacy of the Peace Line, that the Peace Line was
declared by South Korea to prevent Japans illegal fishing activities and various provocations regarding
Dokdo before it established diplomatic ties with Japan (Hosaka 11). Dokdo is within the line, thus giving
Korea the right to own the islets. In 1953, 33 Koreans volunteered to work as guards for Dokdo, serving
for three and a half years. In 1954, Korea redesigned Dokdos automated lighthouse into a watched
lighthouse to further protect the land from any intruders.
In 1954, Dokdo was administered under South Korea. That same year, Japan proposed to South
Korea to take the Dokdo dispute to the International Court of Justice; however, South Korea rejected the
offer. Japan later proposed the offer again, in 1962, but South Korea rejected once again. In 1965, Japan
and South Korea signed the Treaty of Basic Relations, which recognized the Dokdo dispute. This dispute
between South Korea and Japan continues to the present day, leading both Japanese and Korean citizens
to protest against each other.
What should also be noted in historical review is the perspective of Dokdo and its history, shared
by both North and South Koreans. A parallelism of this situation is found in Taiwans support of China in
the equivalent territorial dispute over a set of islands by the name of Diaoyu/Senkaku. Coincidentally, the

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

islands were annexed to Japan in 1895, when the colonialist Japan won the Sino-Japanese war during
their expansionism. One symbolic example is found in the 2nd verse of Hollo Arirang:

As fresh water from Kumgangsan flows into the East Sea,

So does frees water from Soraksan into the same sea
But where do our minds flow into?
By when shall we become one like before?
Arirang Arirang, Hollo Arirang
Arirang ridges, let us climb over.
Tired we may get; then well rest on the way
Hand in hand, shall we tread, on and on and on.
[Translation: Chanha Kim]

It sounds as if Hollo Arirang, in the 2nd verse, has nothing to do with Dokdo. The 2nd and 3rd
verses call for the unity of North and South Koreans into one people, more specifically, one nation. The
Koreans were halved and remained separated for seven decades since the end of World War II, when the
Japanese emperor knelt down and surrendered to General MacArthur. Indeed, "Hollo Arirang," with its
thematic Dokdo, was successful in convoking the two Koreas into a unanimous voice when it came to the
issue of Dokdo. During 2005, North Koreans in Pyongyang chorused Hollo Arirang, when the South
Korean top singer, Cho Yong Pil sang it for his encore, thus showing support on this issue. The fact that
North Korea supports South Korea may seem surprising. North Koreans, who are still technically at war
and therefore at odds with South Koreans in almost every aspect, are supporting South Korea in the
unquestionable territorial rights to Dokdo. In fact, it seems to be second nature for many Koreans to know
that Dokdo belongs to the Korean peninsula and that Japan is simply the closest neighbor, not an owner or
a tenant of Dokdo. Thus, because many Koreans, regardless of where they reside, agree with this matter,
the North Koreans set their differences aside to support the South Korean side on this issue.

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

On the Invalidity of Japanese Arguments on Dokdo
This paper will now analyze the Japanese arguments on Dokdo in order to answer the research
question: Are the Japanese arguments on Dokdo valid at all?
First, what the Japanese government calls 10 issues on Takeshima, as based on 10 Issues of Takeshima,
are as follows:
1.

Japan has long recognized the existence of Takeshima.

2.

There is no evidence that the ROK has long recognized the existence of Takeshima.

3.

Japan used Takeshima as a stopover port en route to Utsuryo Island and as fishing ground. It

thus established its sovereignty over Takeshima by the mid 17th century at the very latest.
4.

At the end of the 17th century Japan prohibited passage for ships to Utsuryo Isand, but not to

Takeshima.
5.

The deposition by Ahn Yong-Bok, on which the ROK side bases its claim, contains many points

that conflict with factual evidence.

6.

Japan reaffirmed its intention to claim sovereignty over Takeshima by incorporating

Takeshima into Shimane Prefecture in 1905.

7.

In the drafting process of the Treaty of Peace with Japan, the United States rejected the

request by the ROK that Takeshima be added to the relevant article of the Treaty as one of the areas
Japan would renounce, claiming that Takeshima had been under the jurisdiction of Japan.
8.

In 1952, Takeshima was designated as a bombing range for the U.S. Forces stationed in Japan,

which shows that Takeshima was treated as part of the territory of Japan.
9.

The ROK is illegally occupying Takeshima, against which Japan has been consistently making

strong protests.
10. Although Japan proposed to the ROK that the dispute over Takeshima be referred to the
International Court of Justice, the ROK rejected the proposal.
Despite the fact that Japan has recognized the existence of Dokdo, they are not the only country
to recognize its existence. Korea has also acknowledged Dokdo for a long time. Factual evidence of this

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

can be found in historical texts. When Shilla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, conquered Usanguk in
512 A.D., both Ulleungdo and Dokdo became a part of Shilla. Since then, the Korean people have
recognized Dokdo as a part of their territory.
Many Korean historical texts mention Dokdo. King Sejong states in Sejong Sillok Jiriji (King
Sejongs Chronicles) in 1454, The two islands of Usan [Dokdo] and Mureung [Ulleungdo] are located in
the middle of the sea due directly east of the Hyeon [Uljin prefecture]. The two islands are not far apart
from each other and are visible on a clear day. They were called Usan-guk and Ulleungdo during the
Shilla period (Republic of Korea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade 6).
The Japanese base their claim that the Republic of Korea has not long recognized the existence of
Takeshima on the fact that Usan and Dokdo are two different islands. Their argument can be seen as
reasonable; however, Usan and Dokdo is the same island. The Japanese accept the fact that Mureung and
Ulleungdo is the same island, but they believe Usan was one of the little islets that surrounded Ulleungdo.
King Sejong states that the one of the islands can be seen from the other on a clear day. The little islets
surrounding Ulleungdo can be seen whether it is day or night. Republic of Koreas Major Na Sang Hyung
states in his MA thesis, The Korean-Japanese territorial dispute over Dokdo/Takeshima, that Dokdo can
be seen from Ulleungdo on a clear day, while it cannot be seen from Oki Island, the closest Japanese
territory (3). Furthermore, while Dokdo appears in Korean maps, the island is not included in Japanese
maps.
Japan may have used Dokdo as a stopover port to get to Ulleungdo (Utsuryo Island), but they did
not establish sovereignty over Dokdo. Japan recognized Dokdo as Korean territory until the late 19th
century. In 1692, the Korean oarsman, Ahn Yong-bok, came across Japanese fishermen who told him to
let them fish near the shores of Ulleungdo and Dokdo. This caused a territorial dispute between Korea and
Japan; however, the two countries negotiated, and the Japanese acknowledged Ulleungdo and Dokdo as
Korean territory. In 1877, the Japanese Home Ministry concluded that Ulleungdo and Dokdo were a part
of Korean territory, and so the Shimane prefecture excluded the two islands from the list of land they
ruled.

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

There are no conflicting points with factual evidence in the Ahn Yong-bok incident. The
Japanese base their claim on the fact that there are no written documents that prove of Japan admitting
that Ulleungdo and Dokdo belong to Korea. Myung-ki Kim, a professor of international law, states in his
paper A Study of Legal Aspects of Japans Claim to Tokdo, In the 23rd year of King Sukchong (1987
A.D.) acceding to Koreas demand, Japan delivered through the lord of Tsushima an official letter stating
that Japanese fishermen would thereafter be banned from fishing off Ulleungdo (363-364). Japan and
Korea came to the conclusion during their negotiations that Dokdo and Ulleungdo belonged to Korea and
that Japanese fishermen were prohibited from traveling to the two islands.
It is true that Japan wanted to take over Dokdo, but this does not prove that Dokdo is a part of
Japan. Until this time, Japan recognized Dokdo as a part of Korean territory. Major Na states in his MA
thesis, Japan carried out research concerning the Status of Dokdo and concluded that the island was
Korean territory. In 1881, Japan acknowledged that its people had been illegally voyaging to Ulleungdo
and exploiting its resources, and promised that they would withdraw from the island (17). Also, the
Japanese claim that Dokdo was their inherent territory before the Shimane prefecture of 1905, yet they
incorporate the island into the prefecture. Myung-ki Kim says in his journal article, That is proof that
Tokdo is not an inherent territory of Japan. It is not necessary to incorporate an inherent territory; it is
self-contradictory (365). Therefore, with all the evidence provided, it is reasonable to conclude that
Japans claim is illogical.
The first five drafts of the Treaty required that Dokdo be returned to Korea The seventh, tenth
through thirteenth, and fifteenth through eighteenth drafts and the final draft did not clearly mention the
status of Dokdo (Na 4). The words of Na above explain that the United States were considering
including Dokdo into the treaty. Although Dokdo was not mentioned as one of the areas Japan was asked
to renounce, it did not mean that Japan had the rights to keep the island. In the treaty, there were many
major Korean islands that were not mentioned, but were still returned to Korea. Dokdo, along with these
unmentioned islands, was returned to the ownership of Korea.

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

Contrary to Japanese belief, the United States did not treat Dokdo as Japanese territory. During
the time of the treaty, North and South Korea were at war with each other. The United States supported
South Korea, while China and Russia supported North Korea. The U.S. believed that if they were to
announce that Dokdo was a part of South Korean territory, China and Russia could have sent their
soldiers to attack and conquer the land. Thus, by saying that Dokdo was a bombing range for the U.S.
forces in Japan, the U.S. avoided potential conflicts with China and Russia.
Although the Japanese claim that Koreans are illegally occupying Dokdo, factual evidence exists
that disproves their belief. Henrik Thon Bardum states in his thesis paper, that the Korean government
maintains Dokdo, in accordance with the Cairo Declaration which states that Japan will be expelled
from all other territories which she has taken by violence and greed (Cairo Communiqu, 1943), was
returned to Korea, and that the exclusion of Liancourt Rocks from Japans territory was later confirmed
by the 1951 Treaty of Peace with Japan (63). Additionally, the Potsdam Declaration states later, in
1945, that the terms in the Cairo Declaration must be carried out, further enforcing this doctrine.
The San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951 stated that the Japanese must return all the land that it
took from Korea during the Japanese occupation period. This also means that Dokdo is supposed to be
returned to Korea. Shortly after the San Francisco Peace Treaty was published, President Syngman Rhee
established the Syngman Rhee Line. The Syngman Rhee Line is the imaginary line/border that is 60
nautical miles off the coast of Korea. Everything within the border is established as Korean territory;
therefore, Dokdo is Korean territory.
Although, when World War II began, Japan took over Korean territory but it was all returned
after the war ended. As a result, Dokdo being Korean territory was returned to Korea after the war.
Therefore, Korea is not illegally occupying Dokdo.
Korea did not reject the Japanese proposal of taking the dispute to the International Court of
Justice because they were afraid of losing Dokdo to Japan. Korea rejected the offer, for they felt that there
was no need to take the situation to the International Court of Justice. If they accepted the proposal, Korea

10

Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

would be admitting that there is a possibility that Dokdo is a part of Japan and since Korea knows that
Dokdo is rightfully their land, taking it to court would be unnecessary.
Throughout history, there have been many territorial disputes over areas of land, and more
specifically, islands. In every case, the side that held greater affirmative acts of sovereignty won. For
example, France and Mexico had a dispute over Clipperton Island, an island off the southwest coast of
Mexico. Jon M. Van Dyke wrote in his journal article, Legal Issues Related to Sovereignty over Dokdo
and Its Maritime Boundary, When the Italian king Victor Emmanuel III issued his opinion in 1931, he
ruled in favor of France, concluding that Mexico did not have historical claim to the island because it did
not exercise sovereignty until 1897 (186). This constitutes another reason why Dokdo is Korean territory.
..., South Korea establishes a stronger claim to the Liancourt Rocks because it [South Korea] has
manifested greater affirmative acts of sovereignty, as necessitated by principles of international law, on
and around the disputed area (Fern 79). While Korea has occupied Dokdo in its own rights and
legitimacy, Japan has not.

Suggested Solutions
Over the past years, many have continuously suggested possible solutions to the Dokdo dispute.
However, most literatures agree on the fact that currently feasible solutions are hard to come by. Hee Min
Kim and Jinman Cho say in their research paper that, any kind of negotiated settlement between the
two countries is unlikely (453). Although this is true at the moment, there have been possible solutions
put forth by some, and ideas that the writers of this paper have as well. For example, Henrik Thon
Bardum states in his MA thesis paper, that Japan has suggested to Korea that they just blow the islets
up (69). The flaw with this solution is that it would destroy the local habitats and resources of Dokdo.
The solution described is in no way humanitarian, for Dokdos land is very unique and extraordinary. If
Japan and Korea were to just blow the islets up, the land and its natural resources would be destroyed.
Another possible solution put forth by Bardum is putting the islets in joint jurisdiction as a
nature preserve (69). Korea and Japan can both benefit by doing this; however, like the previous solution,

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Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

there is a flaw in this theory. If the EEZs (Exclusive Economic Zones) in the area were to be defined
exactly, Dokdo would lie in the Korean jurisdiction.
Although it would be ideal for Japan to give up on Dokdo and restore ownership to Korea, this is
not likely. The best possible realistic solution for the dispute would involve both Japan and Korea
working together to solve the problem instead of lagging its progression. One way to maintain civilization
would be to bring in an unbiased third party to assess the situation. Both countries would collect and put
together reliable information for themselves and present it to the chosen party. Although Japan did
propose taking the issue to the International Court of Justice in the past, with a party properly educated on
the issue, as well as having no ties or benefits to the country and the verdict, Korea may agree to this.
There are many Japanese propaganda videos on the Internet claiming that Korea is attacking their
home. However, unbiased historical facts all point to the evidence of Japan being the aggressor on
Koreas home. Japan, manipulating these historical facts when educating its people, has created an
extremely uninformed public. This is where the Korean American youth can play a big role. Being
bicultural, Korean Americans can take a clearer perspective on the situation, becoming a good informant
and ambassador on the issue to either party.
At this point, it is significant to properly inform not only Japan, but also other countries around
the world about the issue of Dokdo and its history. Coming from a more technologically advanced
generation, the Korean American youth can easily take advantage of the resources they have access to and
spread factual information on Dokdo through the Internet. America is commonly known as the cultural
melting pot, where every language and ethnicity comes to meet. Being knowledgeable in not only
Korean and English, but many other languages as well, opens up more opportunities to educate different
ethnic groups on what is happening presently between Korea and Japan. Creating an educational website
or app, partnered with the inclusion of games or entertaining activities targeted to attract youth, and
available in multiple languages is a very viable option that we, as Korean Americans can accomplish.
With just time and effort by motivated Korean Americans, a creative app or website can be made, being
both entertaining, as well as having an educational cause, similar to the Dumb Ways to Die game. The

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Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

Dumb Ways to Die game was created by Metro Trains Melbourne as a campaign to promote rail safety.
Being entertaining and supporting a good cause, the app went viral, featured as one of the apps in the top
charts section of the Apple App Store. Additionally, the producing of YouTube videos, again attractive
towards youth, may be successful in quickly educating the public using social media. The creation of a
Facebook page, linked to apps, websites, and YouTube videos can also help to bring more attention to the
issue. As well as informing the public, it is important to continue to spread this correct information for
action towards a solution to occur. The use of the technological resources can allow for this spread to take
place. The education of people globally going hand in hand with the spreading of this knowledge through
social media and the help of Korean Americans will help towards a faster, better solution.

Conclusion
Through teamwork, this paper has responded to the validity of Japanese arguments on Dokdo, as
well as suggesting possible solutions to the long winding dispute. Although realistic solutions are difficult
to come up with, as brought up by many literatures, possible solutions have been suggested from
knowledgeable resources and from the writers of this paper. The analysis and counter-argument has
focused on the 10 issues raised by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In order to explain the
Korean perspective towards Dokdo, this paper has linked the issue with the Korean sentiment known as
Han. By introducing Han to the thesis, the writers, though young in age, have learned of and now know
more about the history of Dokdo against Japans imperial colonialism in the early 20th century. To quote
Koreas famous contemporary poet, Ko Un, Koreans are born in the womb of Han; grow up, being
breastfed by Han; live along their lives, swallowing Han; and die, leaving Han behind (qtd. in
19; translated by Chanha Kim). When Koreans see and discuss Dokdo, they view it as the first prey of
Japanese colonialism. It is not surprising that they feel Han when seeing Dokdo, as exemplified in Hollo
Arirang. In conclusion, Dokdo is not just a part of Korea historically and geographically, but emotionally
as well. Dokdo has been, and will forever be tied to Korean culture, as well as those who thrive in it.

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Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

What Koreans wish for the Japanese to understand at this juncture, is that they should be more
sensitive to the Korean sentiment of Han surrounding Dokdo and its history. This paper would like to
conclude by sharing the 3rd verse of Hollo Arirang, directing it towards the Japanese people:

Baekdusan and Dumangang, there, row, row your boat to us,

Hallasan, Jeju, where we will sail and sail away to you.
Let us all get together at Hollo Island.
And let us welcome the fresh morning sun.
Arirang Arirang, Hollo Arirang
Arirang ridges, let us climb over.
Tired we may get; then well rest on the way
Hand in hand, shall we tread, on and on and on.
[Translation: Chanha Kim]

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Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

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Arirang, Lyrical Folk Song in the Republic of Korea. UNESCO. 2012. Web. 29 Sept. 2013.
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2009. Print.
Fern, Sean. Tokdo or Takeshima? The International Law of Territorial Acquisition in the Japan- Korea
Island Dispute. Stanford Journal of East Asian Affairs 5.1 (2005): 78-89. Print.
Hosaka, Yuji. A Study on the Legitimacy of the Peace Line. South Korea: Sejong University. Web.
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Korea Observer 42.3 (2011): 431-459. Print.
Kim, Myung-Ki. A Study on Legal Aspects of Japans Claim to Tokdo. Korea Observer
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Hollo Arirang: A Dokdo Chorus

. 21 (Coreani), .
1 , (2006): 11-40. Web.
< http://cein.pa.go.kr/contents/board/24/252.pdf>.

Appendix: Original Lyrics of Hollo Arirang

/ (1989)

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