The Tokyo Olympic torch relay began yesterday (25th) in Japan. However, as a result of our interview with SBS, it was confirmed that this torch, a symbol of world peace, also passes through Oki Island, Japan, which is notorious as an exhibition hall of Dokdo distortion.
This is Kwon Jong-oh reporter.
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The torch relay began at J Village, a soccer training center in Fukushima, where a nuclear power plant exploded 10 years ago.
The event, which was held while Prime Minister Suga was absent, was attended only by officials such as Hashimoto Organizing Committee Chairman, and was held without spectators to prevent the spread of Corona 19.
The torch is scheduled to travel all over Japan until July 23, the opening date, but controversy is expected as Oki Island, which is considered an outpost of Dokdo distortion, is included in the Bongsong-ro.
Oki Island in the northern part of Shimane Prefecture is the closest place to Dokdo among Japanese territories, and the entire island is evaluated as a Dokdo Distortion Exhibition Hall, enough to establish the Takeshima History Museum.
In addition to Saigo Port, the center of the island, Takeshima, the Japanese name for Dokdo, is covered with various propaganda that is the territory of Oki Island, and the Olympic torch will be delivered around Saigo Port on May 16th.
And it passes by the Shimane Prefecture Budokan, where the annual “Takeshima Day” event is held.
[서경덕/성신여대 교수 : 조금 저의가 있는 전략이라는 생각이 들고요. 일본 정부나 조직위원회에서 독도가 일본 땅임을 좀 자연스럽게 대외적으로 홍보하려는 꼼수 전략으로 볼 수 있을 것 같습니다.]
During the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, South Korea did not perform the Dokdo torch relay, and in accordance with the recommendations of the IOC, the South and North Korean athletes took care of entering the opening ceremony holding the Korean Peninsula flag minus Dokdo.
However, Japan has caused controversy by marking Dokdo as Japanese territory on the Tokyo Organizing Committee’s website, and is poised to enforce the torch relay from Oki Island, a symbol of Dokdo distortion, so the Korean government’s response is urgently needed.