뉴스레터

A bill that requires all textbooks for public schools in the state of Virginia to note that the Sea of Japan is also known as the East Sea passed the state legislature by an overwhelming majority vote in February 2014. Following the March 6 cross-voting (a system of voting in which a upper-house bill requires votes of final approval from the lower house and vice versa), the bill is now pending the signature of Governor Terry McAuliffe. Once this bill is signed into law, all the textbooks approved by the Virginia State Education Committee, starting from July 1, are required to note the "East Sea" as well as the "Sea of Japan" when introducing the body of water both names refer to. This "East Sea" bill, passed at a time when Korea-Japan relations remain strained as Japan's political leaders show backwards thinking in history and continue to lay provocative claims to Dokdo, is highly symbolic and significant.

First of all, it is worth nothing that this is the first legislation ever enacted at a U.S. state level that supports the co-naming of the East Sea. A few counties in Virginia and its neighboring state of Maryland have adopted guidelines instructing teachers to introduce the name East Sea in classrooms or made rules that require the purchase of textbooks and maps that include the name East Sea as well as the name Sea of Japan. But these instructions or rules at county levels may be nothing compared to state legislation in terms of symbolic significance. A state surrounding the capital of the U.S., Virginia has strong influence on the other states. In Virginia, there also live many diplomats and correspondents from countries around the world. Their children, as future opinion leaders of their home countries, will be exposed to the name East Sea as they grow up.

It also helped, although not expected, that The Washington Post, an influential U.S. daily newspaper, reported on this bill several times, publicizing that there was a dispute between Korea and Japan over the naming of the body of water placed between these two countries. It was very unusual for an influential U.S. daily newspaper to publish several articles on a piece of legislation that may seem 'insignificant' to the eye of Americans. Perhaps it was because the bill was drafted in Virginia near Washington D.C. and Japan's revealed involvement in hiring lobbyists in an effort to stop the passage of this bill fueled interest. After The Washington Post's coverage, The Financial Times of the U.K. and Die Welt of Germany also published related stories. In other words, Korea benefited from 'noise marketing' as Japan's 'Yen power' ended up highlighting the East Sea naming issue.

A Victory for the Virginia Korean-American Community's Grassroots Movement

This new law is a significant victory for the Virginia Korean-American community involved in grassroots movement from the presentation to the passage of the bill. Although some credit should be given to the Korean Embassy in the U.S. for their support, it was the concerted efforts of the Korean-American community that helped the passage of the bill, despite Japan's strong and relentless lobbying against it. The confirmed political influence of Korean Americans established in American society is spreading and prompting the legislatures of New York and New Jersey to promote similar legislation.

The Virginia "East Sea" legislation is one of the most encouraging results of our efforts to spread the naming of the East Sea over the last twenty years, although we need to be careful not to have too much expectations or too much optimism. When this Virginia legislation became an issue, the U.S. federal government, through the comment of Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson for the State Department (responding to a reporter's question), confirmed their policy of sticking to the name Sea of Japan, implying that their existing stance would not be affected by the Virginia legislation. And the Japanese Embassy (government) is expected to step up its lobbying efforts against the co-naming of the East Sea in other states of the U.S. and across the world. For example, Sumio Kusaka (草賀純男), Consul General of Japan in New York, has already sent the lawmakers of New York and New Jersey a letter opposing the legislation of the co-naming of the East Sea. And we should take note that on February 20 the Congressional Research Service (CRS) posted a certain report on its official site that included a map marked only with the Sea of Japan, rather than also with the East Sea alongside it as it had been the case for other reports over the last few years.

Major Countries like the U.S., the U.K., and France Still Sticking to 'International Practice'

Despite our persistent negotiation efforts, the governments of major countries, such as the U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and China as well the U.S., remain unchanged in their position in favor of the single use of the name Sea of Japan, maintaining that they are simply following 'international practice.' They are reluctant to change the status quo probably because they are concerned about their relations with Japan. Since 1992, in order to lead the international community to a consensus on the co-naming of the East Sea, the Korean government has made diplomatic efforts at the IHO (International Hydrographic Organization) General Assembly meetings or the UNCSGN (UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names). However, it is observed that the other member states are gradually getting tired of a 'political issue' continuing to be addressed in their meetings instead of being resolved by discussion between Korea and Japan. We should keep in mind that the Sea of Japan has been accepted as an established name in the international community for a long time, and challenging this status quo is not easy.

What We Should Do to Spread the Co-Naming of the East Sea

Now that Virginia's legislation provided a turning point for spreading the co-naming of the East Sea, what should we do next? For a start, it is necessary to keep the moment of success in Virginia going. As I mentioned earlier, the legislatures of New York and New Jersey are promoting similar legislation, and the Consul General of Japan in New York has started to try to stop it. The result will be a fiercer battle between Korea and Japan in the U.S. It is also possible that some of the U.S. press, which was critical of the Virginia legislation, will expand and direct their criticism at addressing the issue between Korea and Japan as a political issue in U.S. state legislatures. All these things considered, more concerted efforts will be required of the Korean-American community. It would be really great if the "East Sea" bill were successfully signed into law in New York and New Jersey as well. But in case it fails, we need to formulate strategies that will keep risks to a minimum lest it should have adverse effects on our future negotiations for the co-naming of the East Sea.

Next, we need to come up with 'fresh' grounds for our argument so that the countries we negotiate with or map manufacturers and textbook publishers will keep listening to our argument without feeling tired of our repeated request for the co-naming of the East Sea. We need to create an environment conducive to young and promising scholars offering fresh perspectives and producing a lot of research results that will explain and support why the co-naming of the East Sea is valid, and to give them full support. We also need to seek support from new, competent scholars from geographic societies with a long history in other countries through exchange with these organizations. I think that if we keep increasing the number of instances where the East Sea is noted, those instances themselves will make the most powerful weapon in our future negotiations.

Lastly, our negotiation experience so far tells us that the East Sea naming issue is by no means the kind that can be solved in a short period of time. Therefore, it is desirable to formulate strategies focused on cool response instead of getting hung up on the results of certain negotiation. Patience is required of the negotiators, the press, and the people alike. Additionally, we also need to seriously ponder fundamental questions once again, such as why Japan is so much obsessed with the single use of the name Sea of Japan, and gather wisdom from many people to come up with how to lead Japan to compromise.