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Protecting Dokdo means protecting our 5,000-year history.

Zone #4

Shedding new light on the deeds of An Yong-bok

Zone #4 sheds new light on the heroic deeds of An Yong-bok, who defended Joseon’s sovereign territories from Japan.

  • In “Ulleungdo Jo” from “Seonghosaseol,” Yi Ik names An Yong-bok a hero, and claims that he should have been appointed as a general to help his endeavors. Based on Yi Ik’s arguments, a ceremony was held to posthumously honor An Yong-bok as “General An Yong-bok, Hero of Dokdo Island,” and various efforts have been made, including the An Yong-bok Commemoration Society to celebrate his achievements.
  • On August 26, 1954, the Daedongmun Church, a patriotic group in Busan, hosted a ceremony to honor An Yong-bok as a general, coining him “General An Yong-bok, Her of Dokdo Island” based on the Seongho Saseol. Ever since, An has been called General An Yong-bok. Then, in 1957, to commemorate his achievements and pass on his legacy to future generations, the General An Yong-bok Memorial Committee was established, and in 1966, the General An Yong-bok Memorial Society was established.
  • In 1967, former President Park Chung-hee wrote a sign saying, “Gukdosuho Gigongbulmyeol” (heroic deeds to protect our land will live on forever), to commemorate An Yong-bok’s achievements in defending the homeland, more specifically, Ulleungdo and Dokdo. Accordingly, Confucian scholars from all over the country wrote poems to commemorate An Yong-bok’s achievements in protecting Dokdo.
  • Even today, organizations related to An Yong-bok, such as the An Yong-bok Foundation, are working to celebrate An Yong-bok’s achievements.

Zone #4

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