South Korea protests Japanese event over disputed Islands

Sunday 22 February 2026 - 11:45

By: Sahili Aya

South Korea protests Japanese event over disputed Islands

South Korea strongly protested a Japanese government event held to commemorate a group of disputed islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), calling the ceremony an unjust assertion of sovereignty over territory controlled by Seoul.

The event, organized by Japan’s Shimane prefecture, included the attendance of a senior Japanese government official. In a statement, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said it “strongly objects” to the Takeshima Day event and urged Japan to abolish the ceremony immediately.

The islands in question, known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in Japan, have long been a source of tension between the two nations. Control over the islets is held by South Korea, but historical grievances rooted in Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945 continue to fuel disputes.

“Dokdo is clearly South Korea's sovereign territory historically, geographically, and under international law,” the ministry emphasized, calling on Japan to abandon its claims and “face history with humility.”

As part of its response, South Korea summoned a senior Japanese diplomat to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul to formally lodge a protest. Observers say the incident reflects ongoing sensitivities in bilateral relations, particularly regarding territorial issues and historical memory.

Tensions over Dokdo/Takeshima occasionally flare during diplomatic or commemorative events, highlighting the broader challenge of reconciliation between the neighboring countries in East Asia.