Japan protests to NYT over South Korean ad

[unreal.livejournal.com]

The Japanese Consulate General in New York protested to the New York Times on Thursday over a full-page ad for a private South Korean organization that used Korean names for Takeshima island and the Sea of Japan.

In the ad, which looked like a tourism promotion, the Korean names "Dokdo" and "Donghae [East Sea]" were used for Takeshima and the Sea of Japan, respectively.

The ad was carried in the US newspaper's March 1 issue.

In the ad, the word "Hawaii" was connected to the US national flag by a line. In the same way, Sicily was connected to the Italian national flag and Bali was connected to the Indonesian national flag.


However, "Dokdo" and the South Korean flag were not connected. The ad included a message asking readers to connect the two as though it were a quiz.

Under the graphic was text encouraging Americans to visit the island for sightseeing, on the understanding that it is part of South Korea's territory.

The text said "Dokdo" was a scenic island in the "East Sea," and recommended Americans enjoy a summer vacation in South Korea.

The Japanese Consulate General said the diplomatic office protested to the New York Times because "It was an opinion ad pretending to be a tourism ad.

It is seriously feared that the ad made use of the newspaper's social influence so readers would misunderstand the facts."

According to an official of the Japanese Consulate General, the New York Times replied that it will not carry this kind of misleading advertisement in the future.

Source: asiaone

Comments

[milkshake.livejournal.com]

oh no they didn't!

[madelyn93.livejournal.com]

it's like when you're 5 and there's a pretty pebble, and you just HAVE to have it, so you go around doodling PEBBLE IZ MINES on all the tables so your stupid deskmate knows not to take it.

[funkaliciousss.livejournal.com]

except it actually affects admiralty laws and issues like marine commerce, shipping and transportation etc.

[yami-no-hoshi.livejournal.com]

yes, and 2 people live there.

[noonew.livejournal.com]

But if you get the rocks, you will be entitled to the surrounding area. That includes fishing right and other natural resources (gas deposits). So they are not only fighting for the rocks and pride, but also for a potential huge source of money.

[black-silver.livejournal.com]

oh shiiiih

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

This again?
Come on Japan don't you have better things to do?
Like improving your justice system so a 10 years ols can file a complaint for rape... Just saying

[akathesia.livejournal.com]

Oh sweet mother of god! GET OVER IT ALREADY!!

[asth77.livejournal.com]

The ad included a message asking readers to connect the two as though it were a quiz.
lmao
iwudt

[gundae.livejournal.com]

then simply just don't connect the dots.

[nandexdame.livejournal.com]

Why do these people keep putting Dokdo ads in American papers/American buses/whatever like the majority of the country knows or cares what they're talking about? The US gets into a lot of people's business unnecessarily but I highly doubt we're going to get into an argument between SK and Japan over some rocks. Chill, both sides.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

we only care if there is oil there

[nandexdame.livejournal.com]

in that case we'd settle the matter by taking it from both of them

[swhyeon1991.livejournal.com]

sounds so pressed~

[falling-empress.livejournal.com]

how many americans know what that means?

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing only those reading Omona and some student in Korean

[o13blackcats.livejournal.com]

Probably no one, but I think the general idea was that if an average American reads this, they'll see that South Korea = Dokdo and would therefore associate the two later on, instead of Japan = Takeshima. Mere exposure effect.

[funkaliciousss.livejournal.com]

Considering how so many white people thought White Day was a celebration of being White.....

Why did they even bother bringing America into this?

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

Sea of Japan, alright maybe....since it's been used on maps officially so long.

But the Japanese consulate can eff themselves re: Dokdo. Korean-inhabited, Korean-maintained...just straight up Korean. Thousands of years and still the stifling need to imperialize. smh

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

i wonder how the u.n. keeps up with this kind of problem. there are so many territorial disputes and i'm not sure anyone will win anytime soon.

for some reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_territorial_disputes

[laceandskin.livejournal.com]

I don't think most people even consider South Korea as a vacation spot.

[mecha-danger.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it's becoming more culturally relevant throughout the world, but I would be interested in seeing how much their massive campaign actually affected tourism.

[bebita19.livejournal.com]

Wait, I don't get it. What exactly are they mad about?

Edit: Never mind, I think I get it now.

[xiahjunsubias.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of the dispute between Nigeria (where I'm from) and Cameroon over a little Island called Bakassi. I always wondered why both countries were so adamant on claiming the island when it's just a small fishing place (admittedly rich in fish, shrimp and other sea life stuff). Until I read that the island is actually attracting oil companies' interests because there may be large reserves of crude oil deposits around the area. In 2008, the UN gave the island to Cameroon. It really sucked for the Nigerian citizens who had been living on the island for generations up to their ancestors being told to leave. I think this could be the case in the instance of Dokdo/Takeshima.

[redgreendress.livejournal.com]

This.

This is one of the BIGGEST (lol, the irony) obstacles in improving Korea-Japan relations. Look, guys, let's just do it like this: Korea, you take the lump of rocks on the right. Japan, you take the one on the left.

[bebita19.livejournal.com]

Lol.

[sirhin.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Not this again. I do understand the importance of getting Dokdo/Takeshima for either countries but this is getting out of hand - the average American probably would just look at it and go "Oh, that must be a Korean island" (which adds one more point on the scoreboard for Korea), but bringing it into a different country? I know the Koreans feel pretty strongly about it - and I admit this is a pretty good way of giving the island (the big rocks) some sort of exposure - but it makes me wonder why the NYT had decided to publish the ad.

Freedom of speech? Perhaps. Money? Always a plus - it is an ad.

Perhaps Japan should do an ad of their own. ;)

Honestly, it all comes down to how they're two very prideful nations so I wouldn't be surprised if it was there (though the Japanese aren't looked at with friendly eyes half the time) so it's always implied, but why is it here?

[icierrrrrblue.livejournal.com]

they should just give it to korea tbh, only koreans have been living there for ages

[phililen3.livejournal.com]

Gone are the days when the EARTH owned ITSELF.