Dokdo Volunteer Garrison
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The Dokdo Volunteer Garrison () was a South Korean
paramilitary A paramilitary is a military that is not a part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934. Overview Though a paramilitary is, by definiti ...
outpost on the
Liancourt Rocks The Liancourt Rocks, known in Korea as Dokdo () and in Japan as Takeshima (), are a group of islets in the Sea of Japan between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese archipelago administered by South Korea. The Liancourt Rocks comprise two ...
. Both South Korea and
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
each claim sovereignty over the islands. The garrison was established by volunteers from
Ulleungdo Ulleungdo (), also spelled Ulreungdo, is a South Korean island east of the Korean Peninsula in the Sea of Japan. It was formerly known as Dagelet Island or Argonaut Island in Europe. Volcanic in origin, the rocky steep-sided island is the top o ...
Island and the Korean Veterans Association, and was led by Hong Sun-chil. The garrison was a private organization that is considered to have laid the foundation for South Korea to exercise practical territorial sovereignty over the islands. According to multiple sources, including the
Encyclopedia of Korean Culture The ''Encyclopedia of Korean Culture'' () is a Korean-language encyclopedia published by the Academy of Korean Studies and DongBang Media Co. It was originally published as physical books from 1991 to 2001. There is now an online version of the ...
, the garrison engaged in several clashes against the
Japan Coast Guard The is the coast guard responsible for the protection of the Geography of Japan#Composition, topography and geography, coastline of Japan under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. It consists of about ...
, and was maintained from 1953 to 1956 until South Korean police forces fully took over operations over the island.


History


Background and Creation

After the allied
occupation of Japan Japan was occupied and administered by the Allies of World War II from the surrender of the Empire of Japan on September 2, 1945, at the war's end until the Treaty of San Francisco took effect on April 28, 1952. The occupation, led by the ...
post-
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Japan regained its sovereignty through the
San Francisco Peace Treaty The , also called the , re-established peaceful relations between Japan and the Allies of World War II, Allied Powers on behalf of the United Nations by ending the legal state of war, military occupation and providing for War reparations, redr ...
. However, despite President
Syngman Rhee Syngman Rhee (; 26 March 1875 – 19 July 1965), also known by his art name Unam (), was a South Korean politician who served as the first president of South Korea from 1948 to 1960. Rhee was also the first and last president of the Provisiona ...
's requests,
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
was not invited as a party to the agreement. Consequently, the issue over the rocks was left unresolved, with the treaty carrying no specific references to the islets. From April 1953, various summits took place between South Korea and Japan, with ownership over the Liancourt Rocks becoming a hotly contested issue. From May to July 1953, the
Japan Coast Guard The is the coast guard responsible for the protection of the Geography of Japan#Composition, topography and geography, coastline of Japan under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. It consists of about ...
patrolled the island several times, installing warning signs that asserted the island as Japanese territory. On October 23, the Japan Coast Guard installed a new territorial landmark on the islands, replacing the South Korean ones. In addition, Japanese ships, fishing boats, and training ships frequently appeared near the islands. Ulleungo residents perceived these actions as threatening their livelihoods, which depended on fishing.Kim, Bo-hyeon(김보현
독도의용수비대 (獨島義勇守備隊)
(in Korean).
Encyclopedia of Korean Culture The ''Encyclopedia of Korean Culture'' () is a Korean-language encyclopedia published by the Academy of Korean Studies and DongBang Media Co. It was originally published as physical books from 1991 to 2001. There is now an online version of the ...
.
On April 20, 1953, work began to create a garrison on the islands, with
Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
veteran and Ulleungdo native as the leader. Hong and several other veterans, who had previously served in the South Korean armed forces volunteer service and had returned to Ulleung Island after the war, created the garrison.


Activity

During its occupation of the island, the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison carried out security operations. In August 1954, a clash broke out between the garrison and a Japanese patrol vessel, which was forced to retreat. In November, a battle between the garrison and three Japanese patrol vessels and an aircraft resulted in several casualties. The Dokdo Volunteer Garrison was stationed independently on the island until mid-August 1954, when the South Korean government established a military outpost and a lighthouse on the island. The garrison was stationed along with local police forces until December 30, 1956, when the garrison handed over security work and equipment to the
police The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...
, entirely putting an end to their activities. However, nine Dokdo Volunteer Garrison members were recruited by the Ulleung Island police station as police officers and took charge of guard duty even after the dissolution of the garrison.


Organization

Captain Hong Soon-chil selected his troops, having regard to their combat experience, bravery, age, personality, and family situation.


Support

The South Korean state provides support for the members of the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison and survivors who have made special sacrifices to defend Liancourt Rocks. * Payment: the spouses of the members of the Garrison and the deceased receive a pension from the government * National cemetery: the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison cemetery in
Daejeon National Cemetery The Daejeon National Cemetery () is located in Hyeonchungwon-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea. It is South Korea's second national cemetery after the Seoul National Cemetery and is overseen by the Ministry of Patriots' and Veterans' Affai ...
* Payment as compensation for the death of members of the Garrison and their spouses * A national day commemorating the Garrison * The month of the Patriotic Veterans, and the Day of Comfort * Invitation to a consolation event


Assessment

In 1966, the South Korean government evaluated the achievements of the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison. It awarded Hong Sun-chil, the captain, a Work Merit Award. Eleven members were awarded a Defense Certificate. Dr. Yoo Ha-young of the Northeast Asian History Foundation said, "Above all, the presence of the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison has contributed to the exercise of national jurisdiction over Liancourt Rocks and the protection of the nation's territory."


Controversies

In 2006, South Korean news outlet
OhmyNews ''OhmyNews'' () is a South Korean online news website. It was founded by Oh Yeon Ho on 22 February 2000. The site's motto is "Every Citizen is a Reporter", which reflects its status as the first news website in Korea to accept, edit, and publi ...
reported that the stories and activities of the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison were exaggerated and distorted. OhmyNews further reported that the garrison was actually created in 1954 and was only operational for less than 8 months until its practical dissolution in December 1954. In another article, OhmyNews also asserted that there is no evidence, other than Hong's self-written records, that supports the notion that the garrison engaged in a fierce battle with Japanese patrol vessels. The article claimed that, according to witness accounts from Choi Hyun-shik, who was the chief of the Ulleung Police Station from 1953 to 1955, there were only two confrontations between Korean and Japanese forces over the Liancourt Rocks. One was an incident in July 1953, when a Japanese fishing vessel, after landing on the rocks, was forced to leave the island after warning shots were fired by a guard. The second incident happened around September 1954, when a Japanese patrol vessel was forced to abort after warning shots were fired from a mortar by police forces. According to Choi, Hong was not present on the rocks during both incidents and these "battles" were carried out solely by police forces, not the garrison. Kim, Young-gyun(김영균)
"일본 순시선과 총격전? 전쟁날 일 있나?" [독도수비대의 진실②
/nowiki> 독도 방어 '전투'는 없었다">도수비대의 진실②">"일본 순시선과 총격전? 전쟁날 일 있나?" [독도수비대의 진실②
/nowiki> 독도 방어 '전투'는 없었다
OhmyNews ''OhmyNews'' () is a South Korean online news website. It was founded by Oh Yeon Ho on 22 February 2000. The site's motto is "Every Citizen is a Reporter", which reflects its status as the first news website in Korea to accept, edit, and publi ...
. (in Korean). October 19, 2006.


References


Bibliography

* . {{refend Liancourt Rocks Law enforcement in South Korea 1953 establishments in South Korea 1956 disestablishments in Asia