[KS] Library of Congress Korean Controversy

Jim Hoare jim at jhoare10.fsnet.co.uk
Fri Jul 18 15:10:34 EDT 2008


I too was a little surprised to see what seems to me to be Korean
nationalism masquerading as scholarship, although I suppose it goes with
international campaigns to have a particular view represented on maps, in
encyclopediae and so on. I have no doubt that those expressing indignation
about the apparent moves by the Library of Congress are sincere but I do
have doubts about using this particular list to express these views.
Liancourt Rocks is indeed a neutral term, if a little quaint, in the
Korean-Japanese dispute over these rocks, and that is its appeal. No case is
argued, it is merely asserted. 

As far as I know, no countries apart from Japan, the ROK and the DPRK take a
position on the ownership of this territory, which is why a neutral term is
appropriate. 

I can see that if the Library of Congress really was going to drop all
reference to the Korean claim, some Koreans might be upset. But given that
there is a dispute, avoiding any views on which country should have
sovereignty would seem to make sense.

Jim Hoare







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