VANK has launched a new campaign aimed at correcting distortions of Dokdo and the East Sea across global platforms, including some of the most influential organizations such as the United Nations, CIA, and Google. The campaign features iconic independence activists Ahn Jung-geun, Yun Bong-gil, and Yu Gwan-sun, who deliver the message, “We discover and correct errors regarding Dokdo and the East Sea in websites around the world” through their smartphones and computers.
The campaign’s key message emphasizes the importance of reporting and correcting the errors in the naming of “Sea of Japan” and “Takeshima” on foreign websites, encouraging individuals to act in the spirit of the independence fighters who once defended Korea’s territory.
To make the images of these historically serious and solemn independence activists more relatable and approachable to the public, the campaign uses computer graphics to portray them with playful expressions and gestures, giving them a more vivid and modern appearance.
Lee Je-seok, the creative mind behind the ad production, shared his inspiration: “If the ancestors who fought so hard to protect our country knew about the current issues surrounding the East Sea and Dokdo naming errors, they would have been devastated.” He reflected on this thought while brainstorming the concept for the campaign.
VANK emphasized, “Once incorrect geographical names become established on global platforms like international organizations, intelligence agencies, and search engines, it becomes incredibly difficult to reverse the damage. We want to highlight that protecting our nation doesn’t require grandiose or difficult actions. Instead, it’s the collective power of our small efforts and attentiveness that can make a significant impact.”