US EditionSouth Korea Summons Japanese Diplomat Over Shimane Takeshima Day Ceremony
South Korea demands immediate abolition of Takeshima Day, condemning Japan's sovereignty claims over Dokdo islets in a dispute involving annual ceremonies since 2006.
- On Feb. 22, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Hirotaka Matsuo, deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to protest Shimane Prefecture's annual Takeshima Day ceremony.
- Historically rooted, Shimane Prefecture has held annual Takeshima Day ceremonies in Matsue since 2006, tracing back to a 1905 notice and 2005 ordinance.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded immediate abolition of the ceremony, saying Japan's claims were unjustified and declaring `Dokdo is clearly an integral part of our territory in terms of history, geography and international law`.
- Japan offered no immediate comment Sunday as calls to Japan's foreign ministry and the Prime Minister's Office went unanswered following Toshimitsu Motegi, Japanese Foreign Minister, remarks last Friday.
- The dispute remains a persistent flashpoint despite recent summit meetings, as Seoul cites the islets' fertile fishing grounds and potential natural gas hydrate deposits worth billions, rooted in colonial-era grievances.
17 Articles
17 Articles
South Korea protests Japan’s Takeshima Day ceremony, demands end to ‘groundless’ claims over island
SEOUL, Feb 22 — South Korea today protested a Japanese government event commemorating a cluster of disputed islands between the two countries, calling the move an unjust assertion of sovereignty over its territory.In a statement, the foreign ministry said it strongly objected to the Takeshima Day event held by Japan’s Shimane prefecture and to the attendance of a senior Japanese government official, urging Japan to immediately abolish the ceremo…
The government strongly protested against Japan's Shimane Prefecture's hosting of an event to mark the name of Takeshima/Dokdo, which Japan claims, and invited high-ranking government officials to attend. On the 22nd, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement through a spokesperson stating that the event was a "clearly Korean territory" event.
In order to resolve the issue of Takeshima (known as Dokdo in Korean) in Okinoshima Town, Shimane Prefecture, over which both Japan and South Korea claim sovereignty, the prefecture held a ceremony in Matsue City on the 22nd to coincide with "Takeshima Day," which was established by ordinance. Governor Tatsuya Maruyama and Naoki Furukawa, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for the Cabinet Office, who represented the government, attended the ceremony. T…
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