Zone #2
An Yong-bok’s journey to Japan
Zone #2 introduces visitors to An Yong-bok’s journeys to Japan, who traveled to Japan on two separate occasions, and helped confirm that Dokdo is indeed Joseon’s sovereign territory.
First journey to Japan - Abduction of An Yong-bok
- In 1693, An Yong-bok and his men, who were fishing near Ulleungdo, was forced into a conflict against the Ooya clan from Japan, who were illegally fishing in Ulleungdo’s waters, over fishing rights. After the ensuing struggle, An and his men were abducted and taken to Japan. An Yong-bok protested his abduction and detention in Japan and claimed Ulleungdo and Dokdo were part of Joseon’s rightful territory.
Second journey to Japan - An Yong-bok’s journey to Japan
- An Yong-bok, who had been imprisoned for two years on the charge of illegally crossing the border into Japan’s territory, sailed to Ulleungdo in 1696 with a crew of 11, including fishermen from Ulsan and a monk named Noeheon from Jeolla-do. An Yong-bok drove out the Japanese who were fishing on Ulleungdo and Dokdo. While in pursuit of the Japanese fishermen, An changed into an official’s uniform, hoisted a flag stating “Joulyangdo Gamsejang,” and brought a map of Joseon and its eight provinces to clearly claim Ulleungdo and Dokdo as Joseon’s sovereign territory.
Zone #2
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