1848 (14th year of King Heonjong’s reign)
On the 17th day of the 4th lunar month, the American whaling vessel Cherokee spotted Dokdo at 37º 25′ north latitude, 132º 00′ east longitude.
1849 (15th year of King Heonjong’s reign)
－ On the 27th day of the 1st lunar month, the crew of the French whaling ship Liancourt identified Dokdo as being at 37º 2′ north latitude, 131º 46′ east longitude, and named the island “Liancourt Rocks” after the ship. From that time on, Liancourt Rocks was used for all mention of Dokdo in the French Navy’s coastal piloting and nautical charts, and thus the island came to be known by that name in the Western world.
－ On the 18th day of the 3rd lunar month, the crew of the American whaling ship William Thompson spotted Dokdo at 37º 19′ north latitude, 133º 9′ east longitude, and the account written by the crew on the first sighting of the island was that they had spotted “three rocks.” This description calls to mind Sambongdo, another name believed to have been attributed to Dokdo during King Seongjong’s reign in the 15th century.
1854 (5th year of King Cheoljong’s reign)
On April 6 according to the Russian Orthodox Calendar, the Olivutsa, one of four Russian warships under the command of Admiral Putiatin on his journey to the Far East, reported sighting Dokdo in the course of her sail from Manila to the Tartar Strait. The Russians named Seodo (West Island) “Olivutsa” after the vessel that spotted it, while Dongdo (East Island) was named “Menelai” after the warship’s original name. At the time, the Russians considered Dokdo to be Joseon territory. A detailed survey of Dokdo was presented in the January 1855 issue of the Russian Navy’s official magazine, alongside observations of Ulleungdo made by the crew of the Bastok, and a survey of the East Sea coastline conducted by the crew of the Pallada.
* Source: Ship’s Log of the Olivutsa (1854), Russia Navy’s official magazine (1854), and Chosen tokaiganzu (The Map of the East Coast of Joseon) published by the Japanese Navy Ministry’s Hydrographic Office (1876).
1855 (6th year of King Cheoljong’s reign)
On the 25th day of the 4th lunar month, the British fleet reported having sighted Dokdo, and the crew named the island the Hornet Rocks after a British naval vessel.
* Source: The Nautical Magazine (UK, 1856), Coast Pilot published by the French Navy (1856 Edition, Vol. 11)
1870 (7th year of King Gojong’s reign)
In the 12th lunar month of 1869, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials who had been sent to Joseon on a secret surveying mission returned home. They submitted their report entitled “A Confidential Inquiry into the Particulars of Korean Foreign Relations” in the 4th lunar month of 1870. This report laid out in detail the entire historical background as to how Jukdo (Ulleungdo) and Songdo (Dokdo) became part of Korea.
* Source: “A Confidential Inquiry into the Particulars of Korean Foreign Relations”
1875 (12th year of King Gojong’s reign)
In the 11th lunar month, the Advisory Bureau of the Japanese Army published “The Complete Map of Joseon.” This Japanese Army map clearly identifies Dokdo as Matsushima (Songdo), reflecting Japan’s understanding that Dokdo, along with Takeshima (Jukdo or Ulleungdo), were Korean territory.
* Source: The Complete Map of Joseon by the Advisory Bureau of the Japanese Army
1876 (13th year of King Gojong’s reign)
－ The Japanese Navy published “Chosen tokaiganzu” (The Map of the East Coast of Joseon). Made for strategic purposes, it was based on an earlier map that had been completed by the Russian Navy in 1857. Dokdo was identified as a coastal island off Joseon alongside Ulleungdo.
－ On the 16th day of the 10th lunar month, as part of a nationwide initiative to complete an official land registry and produce modern maps, Shimane Prefecture sent an inquiry to the Japanese Home Affairs Ministry asking if Jukdo (Ulleungdo) and Songdo (Dokdo) should be included in the map of Shimane Prefecture. After an extensive five-month review of the document attached to the inquiry submitted by Shimane Prefecture, as well as diplomatic documents exchanged between Japan and Joseon, the Home Affairs Ministry concluded that Jukdo and Songdo were Joseon territory that had no connection to Japan.
Further, a Japanese man named Heigaku Mutoh petitioned the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry for permission to develop Matsushima (Songdo) in the 4th lunar month of 1878. In the 9th lunar month, Japan’s Navy Ministry deployed a warship to survey Matsushima only to discover that the island was none other than Ulleungdo. Based on this finding, the Japanese government denied the request.
* Source: Chosen tokaiganzu (The Map of the East Coast of Joseon). (Hydrographic Office, Japan’s Navy Ministry, 1876)
1877 (14th year of King Gojong’s reign)
－ On the 17th day of the 3rd lunar month, despite the Navy Ministry’s ruling that Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and another island (Matsushima or Dokdo) had no connection to Japan, the Home Affairs Ministry raised the issue with Dajokan (The Great Council of State) stating that “disposition of territory is a matter of great importance.” The Ministry presented the Great Council with a memorandum and enclosed documents.
－ On the 20th day of the 3rd lunar month, the Dajokan issued the following directive: “As per your inquiry, note that our country has nothing to do with another island beside Takeshima.” The Great Council sent the directive to the Home Affairs Ministry on the 29th day of the 3rd lunar month. On the 9th day of the 4th lunar month, the Ministry forwarded the Dajokan’s directive to Shimane Prefecture.
* Source: Compilation of Official Documents, Home Affairs Ministry Section 1
1881 (18th year of King Gojong’s reign)
Seven Japanese nationals were caught logging on Ulleungdo. Governor of Gangwon Province Im Han-su notified the central government of the offense and asked that appropriate measures be taken. On the 22nd day of the 5th lunar month, Joseon’s Office for Extraordinary State Affairs ordered that diplomatic papers be prepared and filed with Japan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, and appointed military officer Yi Gyu-won to lead the investigation into the situation on the island as Royal Inspector of Ulleungdo.
* Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat), (22nd day of the 5th lunar month in the 18th year of King Gojong’s reign); Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (22nd day of the 5th lunar month in the 18th year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong), Vol.18.
1881 (18th year of King Gojong’s reign)
In July, Seisei Kitazawa prepared Takeshima kosho (A Study of Historical Evidence on Takeshima) as part of research commissioned by the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry. He submitted a summary of his findings titled Takeshima hanto shyozokuko (Summary of Study on Takeshima) to the Ministry. In 1880, the Japanese government sent a warship on an exploratory mission to Ulleungdo, and in the meantime, instructed Kitazawa to continue his research on the history of Ulleungdo and Dokdo. Kitazawa’s study concluded that in 1699 Matsushima (Songdo) was referred to as Takeshima (Jukdo) or Ulleungdo, and the island was not Japan’s territory. The report also made brief mention of Dokdo as follows: “Besides Ulleungdo, there is another island called Takeshima (Jukdo) which is a very small islet.”
* Source: Takeshima kosho (A Study of Historical Evidence on Takeshima) Vol. 1, 2, 3; Takeshima hanto shyozokuko (Summary of Study on Takeshima)
1882 (19th year of Gojong’s reign)
On the 7th day of the 4th lunar month, Yi Gyu-won, the incoming Royal Inspector for Ulleungdo appeared before the king to bid farewell before leaving on his mission. King Gojong asked him to pay special attention to Usando, Songdo and Jukdo, and to make a map of Ulleungdo. In addition, the king asked Yi to conduct a detailed survey to explore the possibility of building a settlement on the island.
* Source: Seungjeongwon-ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (7th day of the 4th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (7th day of the 4th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong), vol. 19
1882 (19th year of King Gojong’s reign)
On the 5th day of the 6th lunar month, Yi Gyu-won returned to brief the king on the outcome of his investigation. Following his arrival at Ulleungdo on the 30th day of the 4th lunar month, he had conducted his mission from the 2nd day of the 5th lunar month to the 10th lunar month and had returned to the port of Gusanpo in Pyeonghae, Gangwon Province on the 13th day of the 5th lunar month. He advised the king that it was feasible to build a settlement on the island and identified Rari-dong as a suitable site. While exploring the region, Yi reported that he had spotted a host of illegal logging activities by Japanese as well as a Japanese marker referring to the island as Matsushima (Jukdo). Yi’s discovery prompted the Korean government to file a complaint with the Japanese Minister to Korea and Japan’s Foreign Ministry.
*Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (5th day of the 6th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (5th day of the 6th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong), Vol. 19; Abridged version of Yi Gyu-won’s Ulleungdo geomchal ilgi (Daily Records of the Ulleungdo Inspection)
On the 20th day of the 8th lunar month, following the advice of Chief High State Councillor Hong Sun-mok, the position of Ulleungdo Chief was established to oversee the island. Royal Inspector Yi Gyu-won recommended Jeon Seok-gyu, a resident of Ulleungdo who hailed from Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province, for the post.
* Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (20th day of the 8th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Bibyeonsa deungnok (Records of the Border Defense Council) (20th day of the 8th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong) Vol. 19; Ulleungdo geomchal ilgi (Daily Records of the Ulleungdo Inspection) by Yi Gyu-won.
1883 (20th year of King Gojong’s reign)
On the 16th day of the 3rd lunar month, Kim Ok-gyun was appointed Commissioner for Development of the Southeastern Islands and Whaling.
*Source: Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong) Vol. 20, 21.
1883 (20th year of King Gojong’s reign)
In the 4th lunar month, the Hydrographic Office of the Japanese Navy Ministry published the Territorial Hydrograph Chronicles. Information about Dokdo appeared in the second volume of the chronicles titled “The General Situation of Joseon,” clearly reflecting Japan’s view that Dokdo was Joseon territory.
*Source: Territorial Hydrograph Chronicles Vol. 2 published by the Navy Ministry of Japan in the 4th lunar month of 1883.
1883 (20th year of King Gojong’s reign)
－ In the 4th lunar month, the first official settlers, 16 households comprising 54 people migrated to Ulleungdo
－ Later in the 7th lunar mont,h the government of Joseon investigated how well these first settlers were managing on the island.
* Source: Record dated the 4th month of the 9th year of reign title Guangxu of Qing China, from 鬱陵島開拓時船格糧米雜物容入假量成冊; Record dated the 7th month the 9th year of reign title Guangxu of Qing China, from 江原道鬱陵島新入民戶人口姓
1884 (21st year of King Gojong’s reign)
On the 11th day of the 1st lunar month, Kim Ok-gyun, Commissioner for Development of the Southeastern Islands reported to Joseon’s central government that Ulleungdo Chief Jeon Seok-gyu had been colluding with the Japanese to sell timber from the island to Japan. The government issued an order for Jeon’s arrest.
* Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (the 11th day of the 1st lunar month of the 21st year of King Gojong’s reign); Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (the 11th day of the 1st lunar month of the 21st year of King Gojong’s reign); Bibyeonsa deungnok (Records of the Border Defense Council) (the 6th day of the 1st lunar month of the 21st year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong) vol. 21
1884 (21st year of King Gojong’s reign)
－ On the 15th day of the 3rd lunar month, Joseon’s Office of Military and Domestic Affairs proposed that a government office be established on Ulleungdo and that people should be encouraged to settle on the island to cultivate the land. Joseon’s central government approved the proposal, advised the Governor of Gangwon Province to take the necessary steps, and charged the local commander of Samcheok with the additional responsibility of Royal Inspector of Ulleungdo.
－ On the 30th day of the 6th lunar month, the Office of Military and Domestic Affairs assigned the Governor of Pyeonghae the additional responsibility of serving as Royal Inspector of Ulleungdo.
* Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (15th day of 3rd lunar month, 21st year of King Gojong’s reign; Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (15th day of the 3rd lunar month and the 30th day of the 6th lunar month of the 21st year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong), vol. 39
1888 (25th year of King Gojong’s reign)
On the 6th day f the 2nd lunar month, Joseon’s central government agreed to reinstate the position of the Chief of Ulleungdo upon the advice of the Ministry of Home Affairs. At that time a fort was established in Port Wolseong in Pyeonghae and the Joseon government dispatched a local commander to the fort in Wolseong and assigned him the additional responsibility of carrying out occasional inspections of Ulleungdo as Chief the island.
* Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (7th day of 2nd lunar month of the 25th year of King Gojong’s reign); Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (7th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 25th year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong) vol. 25 (6th day of the 2nd lunar month)
1894 (31st year of King Gojong’s reign)
On the 27th day of the 12th lunar month, having cleared sufficient land for farming, the Joseon government ceased providing supplies for the boats patrolling Ulleungdo for good.
Source: 27th day of the 12th lunar month, Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong), vol. 32; Gwanbo (Official Gazette), 27th day of the 12th lunar month of the 503rd year since dynasty’s foundation (1894).
1895 (32nd year of King Gojong’s reign, 504th year since dynasty’s foundation)
－ On the 29th day of the 1st lunar month, having suspended the Government Patrol System, Joseon’s central government appointed a separate officer to serve as Chief of Ulleungdo, a post previously held by the Local Commander of Wolseong, on the advice of Interior Minister Bak Yeong-hyo. Joseon continued to send ships to the island several times a year to check on the settlers’ progress.
－ On the 16th day of the 8th lunar month, based on the advice of Interior Minister Bak Jeong-yang, Joseon’s central government elevated the position of Chief of Ulleungdo to that of Provost.
－ On the 20th day of the 9th lunar month, Joseon named Ulleungdo resident Bae Gye-ju to the post of Provost of Ulleungdo, an official rank of Level 7~9 within the bureaucratic hierarchy.
* Source: 29th day of the 1st lunar month, 32nd year of King Gojong’s reign, Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat); 29th day of the 1st lunar month, 32nd year of King Gojong’s reign, Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection); Gwanbo (Official Gazette), Issue No. 139 (29th day of the 1st lunar month of the 504th year since dynasty’s foundation)
1898 (Great Han Empire, 2nd year of Gwangmu. Note: In 1896, Gojong proclaimed the country the Great Han Empire and took the title Emperor; in dating thereafter, his reign came to be referred to as Gwangmu.)
On May 30, Joseon’s central government announced the appointment of the Governor of Ulleungdo in Imperial Ordinance No. 12 (dated May 26). Only residents of the island were eligible for the post, a position of Level 7~9 rank within the bureaucratic hierarchy.
* Source: Gojongsillok (Annals of Emperor Gojong) vol. 37; Gwanbo (Official Gazette) Issue No. 962, dated May 30th, 2nd year of reign title Gwangmu.
1899 (Great Han Empire, 3rd year of Gwangmu)
On December 19, on the advice of Interior Minister Lee Geon-ha, in response to concerns over illegal logging and harassment by the Japanese, the Joseon central government dispatched an inspector, U Yong-jeong, to Ulleungdo.
* Source: Gojongsillok (Annals of Emperor Gojong) vol.39; Gwanbo (Official Gazette) Issue No. 1448 dated December 19th, 3rd year of reign title Gwangmu
1900 (Great Han Empire, 4th year of reign title Gwangmu)
－ On May 31, a joint Korean-Japanese team of inspectors, which included U Yong-jeong and Akatsuka Seihou, Consular Attaché of the Japanese Consulate in Busan, traveled to Ulleungdo to investigate reports of misconduct, illegal logging, and unlawful taxation by Japanese. The team also inspected the overall condition of life on the island.
－ On June 15, U Yong-jeong filed an official report to the Joseon central government suggesting prompt removal of Japanese from the island as well as the reorganization of Ulleungdo’s governing body.
－ On Oct. 27, Joseon issued Imperial Ordinance No. 41, thereby changing the name of Ulleungdo to Uldo and changing the role of its provost to that of a county magistrate. As a result, the island became the 27th county of Gangwon Province. Under the Ordinance, the county office was established in Taehadong and the new county magistrate of Uldo had authority over the entire island, Jukdo (Daetseom) and Seokdo (Dokdo).
The incumbent Provost, Bae Gye-ju, became the first County Magistrate of Uldo. The central government divided Ulleung County into Nam-myeon and Buk-myeon, with Dokdo belonging to Nam-myeon of Ulleng County for administrative purposes.
*Source: Uldo-gi (Record of Uldo) and a report written by U Yong-jeong; Gojongsillok (Annals of Emperor Gojong) vol. 40; Gwanbo (Official Gazette) Issue No. 1716 dated October 27 of the 4th year of reign title Gwangmu.
1904 (Great Han Empire, 8th year of reign title Gwangmu)
－ On February 10, Japan declared war on Russia.
－ On February 23, Joseon was forced to sign the first Korea-Japan Protocol Agreement, which gave Japan the right to occupy and expropriate Korean territory in support of its war against Russia
－ On August 22, Joseon was forced to sign the Korea-Japan Agreement, which authorized Japan to install financial and foreign affairs advisers within the Joseon government.
－ On September 1, Japan completed construction of watchtowers to look out for Russian warships in the East Sea. The watchtowers, two in the southeast and two in the northeast with seven men assigned to each tower, went into operation on September 2.
－ On September 24, the Japanese warship Nitaka-maru sailed for Dokdo on a mission to assess the feasibility of building a watchtower on the island. The Niitaka-maru reported that a watchtower could be constructed on the Liancourt Rocks and went on to mention that Koreans referred to the island as Dokdo whereas Japanese fishermen used the name Riankoshima.
－ On November 20, the Japanese battleship Tsushima-maru made land at Dokdo and work began on a survey of Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo) to assess the feasibility of installing a telegraph relay station and running underwater cables around the island.
* Source: Gwanbo (Official Gazette) special edition dated May of the 8th year of Gwangmu; 極秘明治三十七八年海戰史 (Secret Naval Battle History of Meiji Year 37 and 38); 軍艦新高戰時日誌 (Daily War Records of Battleship Nitaka); 島根縣誌 (Records of Shimane Prefecture) (1923); 隱岐島誌 (Records of Honkishu) (1933); and, 軍艦對馬戰時日誌 (Daily War Records of Battleship Tsushima
1905 (Great Han Empire, 9th year of reign title Gwangmu)
－ On January 28, Japan approved the petition filed by Nakai Yosaburo and unilaterally declared Dokdo uninhabited. Japan’s government announced that the island would be called Takeshima and would be incorporated as part of Oki Island, part of Shimane Prefecture.
－ On February 22, the Japanese government drafted a document known as the Shimane Prefecture Notice 40, in which it claimed that Japan had met all the conditions of international law for acquiring and occupying a presently uninhabited land. However, there is no evidence that this ordinance was ever made public.
－ On May 17, Japan entered Dokdo as government-owned property in the official land register of Shimane Prefecture.
－ On June 13, a Japanese warship sailed for Dokdo on a mission to assess the feasibility of building a watchtower there.
－ On July 16, a northern watchtower was built on Ulleungdo and went into operation on August 16 with 11 guards in place.
－ On August 19, construction on a watchtower on Dokdo was completed and the post went into operation that same day, with four guards and two other employees.
－ On September 5, the Treaty of Portsmouth (the Russo-Japanese treaty) was signed, under which foreign powers recognized Japan’s rights over Korea.
－ On October 8, Japan finished laying underwater cable between the northern and southern watchtowers on Ulleungdo.
－ On November 9, Japan finished laying underwater cable between Dokdo and Matsue in Shimane Prefecture.
－ On November 17, Japan forced Joseon to sign the second Korea-Japan Agreement, ceding control of Korea’s foreign affairs to Japan.
* Source: Shimane Prefecture Notice No. 40｣(for circulation) from 秋鹿村役場本; 橋立戰時日誌; 極秘明治三十七八年海戰史 (Secret Naval Battle History of Meiji Year 37 and 38).
1906 (Great Han Empire, 10th year of reign title Gwangmu)
－ On February 1, the Great Han Empire fell under the control of the Japanese Resident-General upon the establishment of the Residence-General and its 12 regional offices.
－ On March 28, the 4th day of the 3rd lunar month, several Japanese government officials traveled to Uldo and informed Sim Heung-taek, Governor of Uldo, that they had come to inspect the island as it belonged to Japan. Governor Sim responded by sending an urgent letter to Yi Myeong-nae, Chuncheon County Magistrate and acting Governor of Gangwon Province, informing him of the presence of the Japanese officers on Dokdo. Magistrate Yi alerted the Interior Ministry and the State Council. Interior Minister Yi Ji-yong replied that he was shocked to hear of Japan’s claims to Dokdo, calling them nonsensical. State Council Minister Bak Je-sun stated that Japan’s claims to Dokdo were unfounded and he ordered that a close eye be kept on the situation in Dokdo and the movements of the Japanese there...
－ On September 24, Uldo County was incorporated into the administrative district of Gyeongsangnam-do Province from Gangwon Province.
* Source: April 29 of the 10th year of reign title Gwangmu, special edition on Ordinance No. 3, Gakgwanchaldoan (各觀察道案) vol. 1; Guhanguk Gwanbo (Old Korea Official Gazette) Issue No. 3570, Supplement dated Friday, September 28th of the 10th year of reign title Gwangmu on Imperial Ordinance No. 4.
On the 17th day of the 4th lunar month, the American whaling vessel Cherokee spotted Dokdo at 37º 25′ north latitude, 132º 00′ east longitude.
1849 (15th year of King Heonjong’s reign)
－ On the 27th day of the 1st lunar month, the crew of the French whaling ship Liancourt identified Dokdo as being at 37º 2′ north latitude, 131º 46′ east longitude, and named the island “Liancourt Rocks” after the ship. From that time on, Liancourt Rocks was used for all mention of Dokdo in the French Navy’s coastal piloting and nautical charts, and thus the island came to be known by that name in the Western world.
－ On the 18th day of the 3rd lunar month, the crew of the American whaling ship William Thompson spotted Dokdo at 37º 19′ north latitude, 133º 9′ east longitude, and the account written by the crew on the first sighting of the island was that they had spotted “three rocks.” This description calls to mind Sambongdo, another name believed to have been attributed to Dokdo during King Seongjong’s reign in the 15th century.
1854 (5th year of King Cheoljong’s reign)
On April 6 according to the Russian Orthodox Calendar, the Olivutsa, one of four Russian warships under the command of Admiral Putiatin on his journey to the Far East, reported sighting Dokdo in the course of her sail from Manila to the Tartar Strait. The Russians named Seodo (West Island) “Olivutsa” after the vessel that spotted it, while Dongdo (East Island) was named “Menelai” after the warship’s original name. At the time, the Russians considered Dokdo to be Joseon territory. A detailed survey of Dokdo was presented in the January 1855 issue of the Russian Navy’s official magazine, alongside observations of Ulleungdo made by the crew of the Bastok, and a survey of the East Sea coastline conducted by the crew of the Pallada.
* Source: Ship’s Log of the Olivutsa (1854), Russia Navy’s official magazine (1854), and Chosen tokaiganzu (The Map of the East Coast of Joseon) published by the Japanese Navy Ministry’s Hydrographic Office (1876).
1855 (6th year of King Cheoljong’s reign)
On the 25th day of the 4th lunar month, the British fleet reported having sighted Dokdo, and the crew named the island the Hornet Rocks after a British naval vessel.
* Source: The Nautical Magazine (UK, 1856), Coast Pilot published by the French Navy (1856 Edition, Vol. 11)
1870 (7th year of King Gojong’s reign)
In the 12th lunar month of 1869, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials who had been sent to Joseon on a secret surveying mission returned home. They submitted their report entitled “A Confidential Inquiry into the Particulars of Korean Foreign Relations” in the 4th lunar month of 1870. This report laid out in detail the entire historical background as to how Jukdo (Ulleungdo) and Songdo (Dokdo) became part of Korea.
* Source: “A Confidential Inquiry into the Particulars of Korean Foreign Relations”
1875 (12th year of King Gojong’s reign)
In the 11th lunar month, the Advisory Bureau of the Japanese Army published “The Complete Map of Joseon.” This Japanese Army map clearly identifies Dokdo as Matsushima (Songdo), reflecting Japan’s understanding that Dokdo, along with Takeshima (Jukdo or Ulleungdo), were Korean territory.
* Source: The Complete Map of Joseon by the Advisory Bureau of the Japanese Army
1876 (13th year of King Gojong’s reign)
－ The Japanese Navy published “Chosen tokaiganzu” (The Map of the East Coast of Joseon). Made for strategic purposes, it was based on an earlier map that had been completed by the Russian Navy in 1857. Dokdo was identified as a coastal island off Joseon alongside Ulleungdo.
－ On the 16th day of the 10th lunar month, as part of a nationwide initiative to complete an official land registry and produce modern maps, Shimane Prefecture sent an inquiry to the Japanese Home Affairs Ministry asking if Jukdo (Ulleungdo) and Songdo (Dokdo) should be included in the map of Shimane Prefecture. After an extensive five-month review of the document attached to the inquiry submitted by Shimane Prefecture, as well as diplomatic documents exchanged between Japan and Joseon, the Home Affairs Ministry concluded that Jukdo and Songdo were Joseon territory that had no connection to Japan.
Further, a Japanese man named Heigaku Mutoh petitioned the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry for permission to develop Matsushima (Songdo) in the 4th lunar month of 1878. In the 9th lunar month, Japan’s Navy Ministry deployed a warship to survey Matsushima only to discover that the island was none other than Ulleungdo. Based on this finding, the Japanese government denied the request.
* Source: Chosen tokaiganzu (The Map of the East Coast of Joseon). (Hydrographic Office, Japan’s Navy Ministry, 1876)
1877 (14th year of King Gojong’s reign)
－ On the 17th day of the 3rd lunar month, despite the Navy Ministry’s ruling that Takeshima (Ulleungdo) and another island (Matsushima or Dokdo) had no connection to Japan, the Home Affairs Ministry raised the issue with Dajokan (The Great Council of State) stating that “disposition of territory is a matter of great importance.” The Ministry presented the Great Council with a memorandum and enclosed documents.
－ On the 20th day of the 3rd lunar month, the Dajokan issued the following directive: “As per your inquiry, note that our country has nothing to do with another island beside Takeshima.” The Great Council sent the directive to the Home Affairs Ministry on the 29th day of the 3rd lunar month. On the 9th day of the 4th lunar month, the Ministry forwarded the Dajokan’s directive to Shimane Prefecture.
* Source: Compilation of Official Documents, Home Affairs Ministry Section 1
1881 (18th year of King Gojong’s reign)
Seven Japanese nationals were caught logging on Ulleungdo. Governor of Gangwon Province Im Han-su notified the central government of the offense and asked that appropriate measures be taken. On the 22nd day of the 5th lunar month, Joseon’s Office for Extraordinary State Affairs ordered that diplomatic papers be prepared and filed with Japan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, and appointed military officer Yi Gyu-won to lead the investigation into the situation on the island as Royal Inspector of Ulleungdo.
* Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat), (22nd day of the 5th lunar month in the 18th year of King Gojong’s reign); Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (22nd day of the 5th lunar month in the 18th year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong), Vol.18.
1881 (18th year of King Gojong’s reign)
In July, Seisei Kitazawa prepared Takeshima kosho (A Study of Historical Evidence on Takeshima) as part of research commissioned by the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry. He submitted a summary of his findings titled Takeshima hanto shyozokuko (Summary of Study on Takeshima) to the Ministry. In 1880, the Japanese government sent a warship on an exploratory mission to Ulleungdo, and in the meantime, instructed Kitazawa to continue his research on the history of Ulleungdo and Dokdo. Kitazawa’s study concluded that in 1699 Matsushima (Songdo) was referred to as Takeshima (Jukdo) or Ulleungdo, and the island was not Japan’s territory. The report also made brief mention of Dokdo as follows: “Besides Ulleungdo, there is another island called Takeshima (Jukdo) which is a very small islet.”
* Source: Takeshima kosho (A Study of Historical Evidence on Takeshima) Vol. 1, 2, 3; Takeshima hanto shyozokuko (Summary of Study on Takeshima)
1882 (19th year of Gojong’s reign)
On the 7th day of the 4th lunar month, Yi Gyu-won, the incoming Royal Inspector for Ulleungdo appeared before the king to bid farewell before leaving on his mission. King Gojong asked him to pay special attention to Usando, Songdo and Jukdo, and to make a map of Ulleungdo. In addition, the king asked Yi to conduct a detailed survey to explore the possibility of building a settlement on the island.
* Source: Seungjeongwon-ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (7th day of the 4th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (7th day of the 4th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong), vol. 19
1882 (19th year of King Gojong’s reign)
On the 5th day of the 6th lunar month, Yi Gyu-won returned to brief the king on the outcome of his investigation. Following his arrival at Ulleungdo on the 30th day of the 4th lunar month, he had conducted his mission from the 2nd day of the 5th lunar month to the 10th lunar month and had returned to the port of Gusanpo in Pyeonghae, Gangwon Province on the 13th day of the 5th lunar month. He advised the king that it was feasible to build a settlement on the island and identified Rari-dong as a suitable site. While exploring the region, Yi reported that he had spotted a host of illegal logging activities by Japanese as well as a Japanese marker referring to the island as Matsushima (Jukdo). Yi’s discovery prompted the Korean government to file a complaint with the Japanese Minister to Korea and Japan’s Foreign Ministry.
*Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (5th day of the 6th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (5th day of the 6th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong), Vol. 19; Abridged version of Yi Gyu-won’s Ulleungdo geomchal ilgi (Daily Records of the Ulleungdo Inspection)
On the 20th day of the 8th lunar month, following the advice of Chief High State Councillor Hong Sun-mok, the position of Ulleungdo Chief was established to oversee the island. Royal Inspector Yi Gyu-won recommended Jeon Seok-gyu, a resident of Ulleungdo who hailed from Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province, for the post.
* Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (20th day of the 8th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Bibyeonsa deungnok (Records of the Border Defense Council) (20th day of the 8th lunar month in the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong) Vol. 19; Ulleungdo geomchal ilgi (Daily Records of the Ulleungdo Inspection) by Yi Gyu-won.
1883 (20th year of King Gojong’s reign)
On the 16th day of the 3rd lunar month, Kim Ok-gyun was appointed Commissioner for Development of the Southeastern Islands and Whaling.
*Source: Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong) Vol. 20, 21.
1883 (20th year of King Gojong’s reign)
In the 4th lunar month, the Hydrographic Office of the Japanese Navy Ministry published the Territorial Hydrograph Chronicles. Information about Dokdo appeared in the second volume of the chronicles titled “The General Situation of Joseon,” clearly reflecting Japan’s view that Dokdo was Joseon territory.
*Source: Territorial Hydrograph Chronicles Vol. 2 published by the Navy Ministry of Japan in the 4th lunar month of 1883.
1883 (20th year of King Gojong’s reign)
－ In the 4th lunar month, the first official settlers, 16 households comprising 54 people migrated to Ulleungdo
－ Later in the 7th lunar mont,h the government of Joseon investigated how well these first settlers were managing on the island.
* Source: Record dated the 4th month of the 9th year of reign title Guangxu of Qing China, from 鬱陵島開拓時船格糧米雜物容入假量成冊; Record dated the 7th month the 9th year of reign title Guangxu of Qing China, from 江原道鬱陵島新入民戶人口姓
1884 (21st year of King Gojong’s reign)
On the 11th day of the 1st lunar month, Kim Ok-gyun, Commissioner for Development of the Southeastern Islands reported to Joseon’s central government that Ulleungdo Chief Jeon Seok-gyu had been colluding with the Japanese to sell timber from the island to Japan. The government issued an order for Jeon’s arrest.
* Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (the 11th day of the 1st lunar month of the 21st year of King Gojong’s reign); Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (the 11th day of the 1st lunar month of the 21st year of King Gojong’s reign); Bibyeonsa deungnok (Records of the Border Defense Council) (the 6th day of the 1st lunar month of the 21st year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong) vol. 21
1884 (21st year of King Gojong’s reign)
－ On the 15th day of the 3rd lunar month, Joseon’s Office of Military and Domestic Affairs proposed that a government office be established on Ulleungdo and that people should be encouraged to settle on the island to cultivate the land. Joseon’s central government approved the proposal, advised the Governor of Gangwon Province to take the necessary steps, and charged the local commander of Samcheok with the additional responsibility of Royal Inspector of Ulleungdo.
－ On the 30th day of the 6th lunar month, the Office of Military and Domestic Affairs assigned the Governor of Pyeonghae the additional responsibility of serving as Royal Inspector of Ulleungdo.
* Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (15th day of 3rd lunar month, 21st year of King Gojong’s reign; Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (15th day of the 3rd lunar month and the 30th day of the 6th lunar month of the 21st year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong), vol. 39
1888 (25th year of King Gojong’s reign)
On the 6th day f the 2nd lunar month, Joseon’s central government agreed to reinstate the position of the Chief of Ulleungdo upon the advice of the Ministry of Home Affairs. At that time a fort was established in Port Wolseong in Pyeonghae and the Joseon government dispatched a local commander to the fort in Wolseong and assigned him the additional responsibility of carrying out occasional inspections of Ulleungdo as Chief the island.
* Source: Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) (7th day of 2nd lunar month of the 25th year of King Gojong’s reign); Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection) (7th day of the 2nd lunar month of the 25th year of King Gojong’s reign); Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong) vol. 25 (6th day of the 2nd lunar month)
1894 (31st year of King Gojong’s reign)
On the 27th day of the 12th lunar month, having cleared sufficient land for farming, the Joseon government ceased providing supplies for the boats patrolling Ulleungdo for good.
Source: 27th day of the 12th lunar month, Gojongsillok (Annals of King Gojong), vol. 32; Gwanbo (Official Gazette), 27th day of the 12th lunar month of the 503rd year since dynasty’s foundation (1894).
1895 (32nd year of King Gojong’s reign, 504th year since dynasty’s foundation)
－ On the 29th day of the 1st lunar month, having suspended the Government Patrol System, Joseon’s central government appointed a separate officer to serve as Chief of Ulleungdo, a post previously held by the Local Commander of Wolseong, on the advice of Interior Minister Bak Yeong-hyo. Joseon continued to send ships to the island several times a year to check on the settlers’ progress.
－ On the 16th day of the 8th lunar month, based on the advice of Interior Minister Bak Jeong-yang, Joseon’s central government elevated the position of Chief of Ulleungdo to that of Provost.
－ On the 20th day of the 9th lunar month, Joseon named Ulleungdo resident Bae Gye-ju to the post of Provost of Ulleungdo, an official rank of Level 7~9 within the bureaucratic hierarchy.
* Source: 29th day of the 1st lunar month, 32nd year of King Gojong’s reign, Seungjeongwon ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat); 29th day of the 1st lunar month, 32nd year of King Gojong’s reign, Ilseongnok (Record of Daily Reflection); Gwanbo (Official Gazette), Issue No. 139 (29th day of the 1st lunar month of the 504th year since dynasty’s foundation)
1898 (Great Han Empire, 2nd year of Gwangmu. Note: In 1896, Gojong proclaimed the country the Great Han Empire and took the title Emperor; in dating thereafter, his reign came to be referred to as Gwangmu.)
On May 30, Joseon’s central government announced the appointment of the Governor of Ulleungdo in Imperial Ordinance No. 12 (dated May 26). Only residents of the island were eligible for the post, a position of Level 7~9 rank within the bureaucratic hierarchy.
* Source: Gojongsillok (Annals of Emperor Gojong) vol. 37; Gwanbo (Official Gazette) Issue No. 962, dated May 30th, 2nd year of reign title Gwangmu.
1899 (Great Han Empire, 3rd year of Gwangmu)
On December 19, on the advice of Interior Minister Lee Geon-ha, in response to concerns over illegal logging and harassment by the Japanese, the Joseon central government dispatched an inspector, U Yong-jeong, to Ulleungdo.
* Source: Gojongsillok (Annals of Emperor Gojong) vol.39; Gwanbo (Official Gazette) Issue No. 1448 dated December 19th, 3rd year of reign title Gwangmu
1900 (Great Han Empire, 4th year of reign title Gwangmu)
－ On May 31, a joint Korean-Japanese team of inspectors, which included U Yong-jeong and Akatsuka Seihou, Consular Attaché of the Japanese Consulate in Busan, traveled to Ulleungdo to investigate reports of misconduct, illegal logging, and unlawful taxation by Japanese. The team also inspected the overall condition of life on the island.
－ On June 15, U Yong-jeong filed an official report to the Joseon central government suggesting prompt removal of Japanese from the island as well as the reorganization of Ulleungdo’s governing body.
－ On Oct. 27, Joseon issued Imperial Ordinance No. 41, thereby changing the name of Ulleungdo to Uldo and changing the role of its provost to that of a county magistrate. As a result, the island became the 27th county of Gangwon Province. Under the Ordinance, the county office was established in Taehadong and the new county magistrate of Uldo had authority over the entire island, Jukdo (Daetseom) and Seokdo (Dokdo).
The incumbent Provost, Bae Gye-ju, became the first County Magistrate of Uldo. The central government divided Ulleung County into Nam-myeon and Buk-myeon, with Dokdo belonging to Nam-myeon of Ulleng County for administrative purposes.
*Source: Uldo-gi (Record of Uldo) and a report written by U Yong-jeong; Gojongsillok (Annals of Emperor Gojong) vol. 40; Gwanbo (Official Gazette) Issue No. 1716 dated October 27 of the 4th year of reign title Gwangmu.
1904 (Great Han Empire, 8th year of reign title Gwangmu)
－ On February 10, Japan declared war on Russia.
－ On February 23, Joseon was forced to sign the first Korea-Japan Protocol Agreement, which gave Japan the right to occupy and expropriate Korean territory in support of its war against Russia
－ On August 22, Joseon was forced to sign the Korea-Japan Agreement, which authorized Japan to install financial and foreign affairs advisers within the Joseon government.
－ On September 1, Japan completed construction of watchtowers to look out for Russian warships in the East Sea. The watchtowers, two in the southeast and two in the northeast with seven men assigned to each tower, went into operation on September 2.
－ On September 24, the Japanese warship Nitaka-maru sailed for Dokdo on a mission to assess the feasibility of building a watchtower on the island. The Niitaka-maru reported that a watchtower could be constructed on the Liancourt Rocks and went on to mention that Koreans referred to the island as Dokdo whereas Japanese fishermen used the name Riankoshima.
－ On November 20, the Japanese battleship Tsushima-maru made land at Dokdo and work began on a survey of Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo) to assess the feasibility of installing a telegraph relay station and running underwater cables around the island.
* Source: Gwanbo (Official Gazette) special edition dated May of the 8th year of Gwangmu; 極秘明治三十七八年海戰史 (Secret Naval Battle History of Meiji Year 37 and 38); 軍艦新高戰時日誌 (Daily War Records of Battleship Nitaka); 島根縣誌 (Records of Shimane Prefecture) (1923); 隱岐島誌 (Records of Honkishu) (1933); and, 軍艦對馬戰時日誌 (Daily War Records of Battleship Tsushima
1905 (Great Han Empire, 9th year of reign title Gwangmu)
－ On January 28, Japan approved the petition filed by Nakai Yosaburo and unilaterally declared Dokdo uninhabited. Japan’s government announced that the island would be called Takeshima and would be incorporated as part of Oki Island, part of Shimane Prefecture.
－ On February 22, the Japanese government drafted a document known as the Shimane Prefecture Notice 40, in which it claimed that Japan had met all the conditions of international law for acquiring and occupying a presently uninhabited land. However, there is no evidence that this ordinance was ever made public.
－ On May 17, Japan entered Dokdo as government-owned property in the official land register of Shimane Prefecture.
－ On June 13, a Japanese warship sailed for Dokdo on a mission to assess the feasibility of building a watchtower there.
－ On July 16, a northern watchtower was built on Ulleungdo and went into operation on August 16 with 11 guards in place.
－ On August 19, construction on a watchtower on Dokdo was completed and the post went into operation that same day, with four guards and two other employees.
－ On September 5, the Treaty of Portsmouth (the Russo-Japanese treaty) was signed, under which foreign powers recognized Japan’s rights over Korea.
－ On October 8, Japan finished laying underwater cable between the northern and southern watchtowers on Ulleungdo.
－ On November 9, Japan finished laying underwater cable between Dokdo and Matsue in Shimane Prefecture.
－ On November 17, Japan forced Joseon to sign the second Korea-Japan Agreement, ceding control of Korea’s foreign affairs to Japan.
* Source: Shimane Prefecture Notice No. 40｣(for circulation) from 秋鹿村役場本; 橋立戰時日誌; 極秘明治三十七八年海戰史 (Secret Naval Battle History of Meiji Year 37 and 38).
1906 (Great Han Empire, 10th year of reign title Gwangmu)
－ On February 1, the Great Han Empire fell under the control of the Japanese Resident-General upon the establishment of the Residence-General and its 12 regional offices.
－ On March 28, the 4th day of the 3rd lunar month, several Japanese government officials traveled to Uldo and informed Sim Heung-taek, Governor of Uldo, that they had come to inspect the island as it belonged to Japan. Governor Sim responded by sending an urgent letter to Yi Myeong-nae, Chuncheon County Magistrate and acting Governor of Gangwon Province, informing him of the presence of the Japanese officers on Dokdo. Magistrate Yi alerted the Interior Ministry and the State Council. Interior Minister Yi Ji-yong replied that he was shocked to hear of Japan’s claims to Dokdo, calling them nonsensical. State Council Minister Bak Je-sun stated that Japan’s claims to Dokdo were unfounded and he ordered that a close eye be kept on the situation in Dokdo and the movements of the Japanese there...
－ On September 24, Uldo County was incorporated into the administrative district of Gyeongsangnam-do Province from Gangwon Province.
* Source: April 29 of the 10th year of reign title Gwangmu, special edition on Ordinance No. 3, Gakgwanchaldoan (各觀察道案) vol. 1; Guhanguk Gwanbo (Old Korea Official Gazette) Issue No. 3570, Supplement dated Friday, September 28th of the 10th year of reign title Gwangmu on Imperial Ordinance No. 4.
