‘Dokdo Is Administered by Korea,’ Say Foreign Publishers

World-renowned National Geographic describes the Dokdo islets as “Dokdo (Take Shima, Liancourt Rocks)” on its world map.

It states Dokdo first and puts behind Takeshima and Liancourt Rocks in parentheses, showing a clear difference with maps published by the U.S. government or U.S. Army, which put Liancourt Rocks ahead of Dokdo.

Maps of the world made by National Geographic has put the term “Dokdo” ahead of other names since the 1970s. However, some changes are found between the seventh and eighth editions.

It explained Dokdo as “Tok-do (Liancourt Rocks)” and the East Sea as the “Sea of Japan,” by 1999 when it released its seventh edition.

However, its eighth edition released in November 2004 describes the islets as “Dokdo (Take Shima, Liancourt Rocks)” and the East Sea as the “Sea of Japan (East Sea).” At the request of Korea, it also put the “East Sea” in parenthesis while putting the word of “Take Shima” in parenthesis along with “Liancourt Rocks,” as requested by Japan.

However, it provides further explanation on the Dokdo islets: “Administered by South Korea; claimed by Japan.”

French encyclopedia publisher Universalis describes the Dokdo islets as “Rocher Liancourt (Tok-do, Take-Shima)” and gives detailed information -- “Administered by South Korea; claimed by Japan” -- in its map of the world released this year.

British encyclopedia publisher Britannica (the 2004 edition) only describes the Dokdo islets as Liancourt Rocks. But, maps used by the British Navy calls the Dokdo islets “Tokdo (Take Shima).”

pisong@donga.com