dokdo - poetry and art

Dokdo

My heart was pounding hard

When my boat was approaching the three-peak island.

The island could be seen as an island from one angle,

So that the island was called by the name of Three-Peak Island

By Chosun fishermen.

Once the island was occupied by many seals,

Its name was changed into Gaji Island.

Gaji means seals.

Another name was Rock Island,

Simply because it was a rock island.

The Chosun Kingdom’s fishermen changed the name of the island,

But they are the same island you know Dokdo today.

Japan claimed that it was its own island in the 20th century,

Because it was no-man’s island.

It was no-man’s island,

Because no one could live in that island.

It was an island of the Woosan Tribal Kingdom

Which was part of the Silla Kingdom in the 5th century.

Don’t try to steal someone’s territory!

It has been the island belonging to Korea from pre-historic time.

My heart is pounding

When the island comes into my sight.