May 31st marks “Ocean Day,” a national commemorative day established by the Republic of Korea. Created 27 years ago in May 1996, Ocean Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of marine development, respond to rapidly changing global marine environments, and promote public recognition of the oceans. Despite the establishment of this day, it raises the question: How aware are we of our maritime territory?
The Republic of Korea’s land area is approximately 100,000 square kilometers, but its maritime territory, surrounded on three sides by the sea, spans 438,000 square kilometers—about 4.4 times the size of its land area. However, there remains a significant lack of attention given to our maritime territory. In primary and secondary education, there is insufficient emphasis on enhancing awareness of our maritime borders and the oceans.
Moreover, Article 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea defines the nation’s territory as “the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands,” which excludes maritime boundaries. Even more concerning, maps issued by the Korean government, which should serve to promote our maritime territory both domestically and internationally, often omit or inaccurately depict our maritime borders.
A prime example of this can be found in the “Korea Tourism 100” guide published by the Korea Tourism Organization. The map accompanying this guide significantly downplays the extent of Korea’s maritime territory. The seas of the Yellow Sea, South Sea, and East Sea are notably reduced, and the South Sea area has been particularly shrunk in editions from 2015 to 2022, even relocating Jeju Island’s position.
The “Korea Tourism 100” guide, issued every two years by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, introduces the top 100 tourist destinations in Korea. While it serves as a valuable resource for both Koreans and international visitors, it fails to reflect Korea’s maritime territory, which has never been fully acknowledged on the maps.
While South Korea’s oceanic travel destinations continue to rise in popularity, including places like Suncheon Bay Wetland, Anmyeondo Beach, Jeju Island, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo, the size of the seas on the maps is disproportionately small compared to the land area.
The omission of maritime territory in maps published by the government has also led to private publications inaccurately reflecting Korea’s territorial waters. The term “maritime territory” encompasses exclusive economic zones (EEZs), continental shelves, and all resources under a country’s jurisdiction, as recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Introducing Korea’s precious tourist destinations to the world is undoubtedly important, but we must not diminish the significance of our maritime territory on official maps. It is essential that we accurately represent both our land and maritime boundaries, not only for Koreans but also for the countless foreign visitors who come to explore Korea’s culture and tourism.
Meanwhile, countries like Japan and China actively promote their maritime territories. On Google Maps, for instance, most overseas maps fail to depict Korea’s maritime territory. In global history and geography textbooks, as well as government-issued maps, Korea’s maritime borders are often excluded or distorted.
One of the most influential national information services in the world, the CIA World Factbook, also presents a reduced map of Korea. Unlike Japan and China, which display their maritime territories extensively, the CIA’s map of Korea only shows the boundaries up to Dokdo, with the East Sea labeled as the Sea of Japan. Furthermore, it distorts Dokdo as “Takeshima,” perpetuating a misleading portrayal of Korean sovereignty.
If we continue to neglect our maritime territory, we risk losing valuable areas like Ieodo and the Seven Seas, which are being claimed by China and Japan. It is crucial that we recognize the importance of safeguarding our maritime borders.
In observance of Ocean Day, VANK has launched a global campaign to raise awareness of Korea’s maritime territory. VANK has posted a petition on its website urging the Korea Tourism Organization to properly reflect the nation’s maritime territory on its maps. In addition, VANK will distribute maps of Korea’s maritime territory through social media and encourage netizens to share their photos of the sea using hashtags to promote awareness.