Dokdo Volunteer Garrison

Dokdo Volunteer Garrison (Korean: 독도의용수비대) was a South Korean paramilitary outpost on the islands of Dokdo,[1] also known as Liancourt Rocks. It has been maintained by South Korea from 1953 to 1956, shooting institution bullets at the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship in the sea ​​near Takeshima, unilaterally exercising force.

In 2017, plans to upgrade the outpost to a more military basis caused tension between South Korea and Japan; the latter disputes the ownership of the islands.[1]

History

In April 20, 1953, work began to create a garrison on the islands to protect it from Japanese aggression. Completed in December 30, 1956, it was handed over to the National Police.[2] Hong Soon-chil and other veterans of the Korean War, who returned to Ulleung Island after participating in the Korean Armed Forces volunteer service and fought bravely in the Korean War comprised the garrison. They kept “Dokdo” from being trespassed by Japan. It was a purely private organization that has laid the foundation for Korea to fully exercise its own territorial sovereignty about Dokdo.[3]

Organization

Captain Hong Soon-chul selected his troops, having regard to their combat experience, bravery, age, personality, and family situation.[4]

Organization configuration table
General Hong Soon-chil
Adjutant(33) Hwang Young-moon
Combat 1 Captain & Troops Seo Ki-jong (Kim Jae-doo, Choi Jae-woo, Cho Sang-dal, Kim Yong-geun, Han Jin-jin, Kim Hyun-soo, Kim Jang-ho and Yang Bong-joon)
Combat 2 Captain & Troops Jung Won-do(Kim Yeong-bok, Kim Su-bong, Lee Sang-guk, Lee Gyu-hyun, Kim Kyung-ho, Heo Shin-do, Kim Young-ho)
Rear support captain & Troops Byeong-Yeol Kim,(Jung Jae-deok, Han Sang-yong, Park Young hee)
Educational captain& Troops Yoo Won Sik(Oh Il Hwan, Ko Sung Dal)
Supply Captain& Troops Kim in-Gab(Jung-Ikwan, Ahn Kwang-Ryul, Jung Hyun Kwon, Koo Yong Bok, Lee Pil-young)

Organization motivation

  • Japan regained its sovereignty through the San Francisco Peace Treaty. However, the Korean War being a very difficult situation made it harder for the country to focus on protecting the island when there were more pressing matters on the peninsula.[5] Japan took Korea's difficult times as an opportunity. Since 1953, Japan began to assert their claims to Dokdo including trespassing on to the islands. By making threats to use force, they drove out fishermen from Ulleung Island who were fishing there, making it harder for them to continue making a living. Nevertheless, during the war, Korea had no way to prepare a plan to defend Dokdo.
  • After returning to Ulleungdo at the end of the Korean War, Hong Soon-chil did not return to protect Dokdo. Hong knew that it was difficult for the state to send troops after going through a devastating war. He used to be one of the soldiers that comprised the garrison that were stationed on the islands.[6]

Achievements

  • A continuous defense of Dokdo's territorial sovereignty without interruption.
  • Preventing fishing activity from Japan within the waters of the island.
  • Permanent installation of a Korean territorial mark on Dokdo.
  • Active support from the government to strengthen Korean sovereignty of Dokdo.
  • Establishment of the basis for the installation of police of the Dokdo Guard[7]

Beginning (~1953)

Since April 1953, talks have been underway to normalize relations between Korea and Japan. At the same time, the sovereignty over Dokdo was raised as an issue. In addition, Japanese ships, fishing boats, and training ships frequently appeared near Dokdo. This was considered to be a threat to local fishing, an important means of livelihood of Ulleungdo residents.[8]

Development (1954~)

The Japanese Coast Guard dispatched a patrol boat to Dokdo. Several warning signs were deployed on the islands in May and July 1953, warning them to not approach the islands. On October 23, Japan installed their own territorial landmarks on the islands replacing the Korean ones. The Dokdo Volunteer Garrison was formed on April 20, 1953, led by Hong Soon-chil, due to the ongoing situation, to carry out security duties.[8]

The Dokdo Volunteer Garrison was stationed independently on Dokdo until the middle of August 1954. Since mid-August, when the government installed guard posts and lighthouses on Dokdo, they cooperated with the police officers dispatched officially in the area. In August 1954, they successfully repelled a Japanese attempt to reach Dokdo. In November of the same year, they fought against three Japanese ships supported by aircraft that also attempted to reach Dokdo. This resulted in Japanese casualties.

Finish (~1956)

On December 30, 1956, the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison handed over security work and equipment to the police, ending official garrison activity. However, nine Dokdo Volunteer Garrison members were assigned to the Ulleung Island police station as police officers and took charge of Dokdo guard duty.[8]

A noble spiritual succession

The garrison's presence helped South Korea to continue to maintain control of the islands, and has become a symbol of patriotism.[9]

Military spirit

The Dokdo Volunteer Garrison has inherited the spirit of military rebellion against foreign invading forces in Korean history. They were a military group voluntarily armed to fight against external aggression.[10] The Dokdo Volunteer Garrison is the pride of Korea and has become the modern posterchild of traditional soldier spirit. In particular, it will be helpful for the younger generations in Korea with thoroughly being taught about the spirit of self-reliance, volunteerism, and the dedication that the garrison showed for homeland defense.[11]

Dedication

"What I did was just a natural affection for the people of Ulleung Island, and, to put it more broadly, it was nothing but a job to do as a citizen."[12] The captain and member of the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison, Hong Sung-chul. He helped to defeat and repel against the illegal invasion of Dokdo by Japanese patrol boats, thereby protecting the territory. He has also made considerable efforts to develop the infrastructure on Dokdo. If it were not for the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison, it is clear that Dokdo would now virtually be under Japanese rule.[13]

Support

The South Korean state provides support for the members of the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison and survivors who have made special sacrifices in order to defend Dokdo.[14]

  • Payment: the spouses of the members of the Garrison and the deceased receive a pension from the government.
  • National cemetery: the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison cemetery in Daejeon National Cemetery
  • Payment as compensation for the death of members of the Garrison and their spouses.
  • A national day commemorating the Garrison.
  • The month of the Patriotic Veterans, and the Day of Comfort.
  • Invitation to a consolation event.[14]

Assessment

In 1966, the South Korean government evaluated the achievements of the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison. It awarded Hong Soon-chil, the captain, a Work Merit Award. Eleven members were awarded a Defense Certificate.[15][16] Dr. Yoo Ha-young of the Northeast Asian History Foundation said, "Above all, the presence of the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison has contributed to the exercise of national jurisdiction over Dokdo and the protection of the nation's territory."[16] The Dokdo Volunteer Garrison showed that the territorial right of Dokdo belongs to Korea through effective control of Dokdo. They showed great activity symbolically and mentally, meaning that they raised patriotism and cultivated the self-consciousness of the nation.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 Yonhap News Agency (2017-10-20). "Japan protests Seoul's plan to beef up disputed islets with new military unit". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  2. ↑ "The Dokdo Volunteer Garrison of Supporting Law, (독도의용수비대 지원법 제2조 제1호)". National Law Information Center.
  3. ↑ "The dokdo Volunteer Garrison Achievement". DOKDO VOLUNTEER FORCES.
  4. ↑ "The dokdo volunteer garrison of organization". DOKDO VOLUNTEER FORCES.
  5. ↑ Park, Joo Yeon (2010-09-07). "1951 San Francisco Consolidation Treaty signed". The Kyunghyang Shinmun. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  6. ↑ "The Dokdo Volunteer Garrison". The academy of korean studies.
  7. ↑ "The dokdo volunteer Garrison of Achievements". DOKDO VOLUNTEER FORCES.
  8. 1 2 3 Kim, Bo Hyun. "The dokdo volunteer garrison contents & Achievements". the Academy of Korean Studies.
  9. ↑ Kim, Myung Ki (1998). 독도의용수비대와 국제법. 다물. ISBN 8986031108.
  10. ↑ layout. "13면 200912.yd2". webcache.googleusercontent.com. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  11. ↑ Na, Hong Joo (2010). 독도의용수비대의 국토수호정신 고찰(2010). 바다사랑실천운동시민연합.
  12. ↑ Kim, Gyu Sik (2005). 아, 독도수비대 : 김교식 실화소설. 안양: 제이제이북스.
  13. ↑ Kim, Myung Ki (1998). 독도의용수비대와 국제법. 다물. p. 12. ISBN 9788986031102.
  14. 1 2 "The dokdo volunteer garrison, support business". DOKDO VOLUNTEER FORCES.
  15. ↑ Kim, Bo Hyun. "독도의용수비대(Dokdo volunteer garrison) (獨島義勇守備隊)". the Academy of Korean Studies.
  16. 1 2 Kang, Chi Goo (2009-11-26). ""The Dokdo volunteer garrison, the Noble Mental Succession"(The historical significance of the 'Dokdo volunteer Garrison' and an academic conference on the succession of the protection of the land)". KONAS.NET. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  17. ↑ Yoon, Gook Jin. "The dokdo volunteer garrison, assessment". 디지털울릉문화대전.
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