Why Did President Moon Send a Gift with a Picture of Dokdo to Japan?

[경향신문]

The gift box that Cheongwadae sent to people in various areas in society and foreign missions in Korea in time for the Lunar New Year. Yonhap News

The Embassy of Japan in South Korea refused to accept the Lunar New Year’s present from President Moon Jae-in because of a painting of the sun rising over Dokdo decorating the box. The incident has sent ripples throughout the diplomatic circle, because it is very unusual for an embassy to refuse a gift from the leader of the host country. In addition to the reason the Japanese embassy refused the gift, why Cheongwadae sent a present with a picture of Dokdo to the Japanese embassy is also drawing much attention.

On January 18, Cheongwadae sent local specialties--Munbaeju from Gimpo; plum extracts from Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do; magnolia berry syrup from Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do; and chestnuts from Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do--as gifts to medical staff dedicated to the nation’s response to COVID-19 and people in social groups that require special care as well as foreign missions in South Korea. But the Japanese embassy protested the painting of a sunrise over Dokdo on the box and refused to accept President Moon’s gift. The Japanese press in South Korea, which too received the president’s gift, also showed discomfort.

When the present stirred controversy, Cheongwadae responded by saying, “We have no position to state at present.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the government’s official position on Dokdo and said, “Dokdo is clearly an integral part of Korean territory historically, geographically, and under international law,” in response to the protest by the Japanese embassy on this issue. In South Korea, more people support Cheongwadae claiming that by sending the gift to Japan, Cheongwadae stressed that Dokdo is a part of the Republic of Korea.

But aside from the fact that Dokdo is clearly a part of Korean territory, some experts argue that it was inappropriate for Cheongwadae to send a presidential gift with a painting of Dokdo to the Japanese embassy, which represents the Japanese government. Since the gift was sent to foreign missions and Korean figures alike, Cheongwadae may not have had Japan particularly in mind, but some people still question whether Cheongwadae had other intentions since it was bound to know that the Japanese embassy would not receive the gift. In Japan, people argue that Cheongwadae retaliated to the Japanese government’s territorial claim over Dokdo. Some suspect that Cheongwadae expected Japan to oppose and tried to take advantage of this politically.

Others argue that the latest incident will work in favor of Japan. The South Korean government maintains the official position that “There is no dispute over Dokdo,” but Japan has tried to use every chance it could get to tell the international community that Dokdo is disputed territory between South Korea and Japan. A typical example is how Japan used the visit to Dokdo by Police Commissioner General Kim Chang-yong as an excuse to boycott a joint press conference previously arranged after the foreign vice-ministerial talks among South Korea, the United States and Japan in Washington D.C. last November. This is why some experts argue that Cheongwadae’s Lunar New Year present contributed to Japan’s plan to turn Dokdo into disputed territory.

A diplomatic source who asked to remain anonymous said, “Even if Japan tries to pick a fight, if South Korea does not respond, the fact that Dokdo is Korean territory will not change no matter how much time passes,” and criticized, “It was very unwise for Cheongwadae to be the first to give Japan an excuse to turn Dokdo into disputed territory.”