Japan's Yonago Airport Sells 'Takeshima' Labeled Goods; Professor Seo Calls It 'Crossing the Line'

The ongoing territorial dispute over Dokdo has taken a new turn with the discovery of products bearing the Japanese name 'Takeshima' being sold at Yonago Airport in Japan. Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women's University has strongly condemned this move, labeling it as crossing a line.

According to Professor Seo, the offending items include salt produced in Shimane Prefecture, specifically from the Oki Islands. The packaging explicitly marks both the Oki Islands and Dokdo/Takeshima, even indicating a distance of 157 kilometers between them. Furthermore, the phrase 'National Park Oki' is prominently highlighted, creating the impression that Dokdo is an integral part of Japan's national park system.

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Selling products labeled with Takeshima in an airport frequented by many Japanese and foreigners alike is crossing the line.

While similar products have been found in shops on the Oki Islands and at the Saigo Port terminal, their appearance within an international airport like Yonago is particularly concerning. Professor Seo emphasized that such blatant territorial claims in a space frequented by numerous international visitors are unacceptable. He urged for the development and promotion of more Dokdo-related merchandise to counter these provocations and educate the global public about Korea's rightful sovereignty over the islets.

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In a situation where the world is showing great interest in Korean culture and history, it will be important to develop more diverse Dokdo merchandise and naturally inform the world.