Japan has uploaded on the Tokyo Summer Olympics website a map of the country outlining the torch relay route that indicates Dokdo Island as Japanese territory. (Facebook page of Sungshin Women's University professor Seo Kyeong-duk)

By Lee Hana

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong on May 28 blasted Japan for including Korea's Dokdo Island on a map posted on the Tokyo Summer Olympics website of the Japanese archipelago that outlines the torch relay route.

Calling the decision "unacceptable," the minister said the government has filed a strong complaint with Japan when asked about the issue by ruling Democratic Party Rep. Kim Young-joo at a meeting of the National Assembly's Committee on Foreign Affairs and Unification.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Public Affairs Choi Youngsam, who is also the ministry's spokesperson, on May 27 told a regular news briefing, "Dokdo is clearly our indigenous territory historically and geographically and under international law."

"Japan indicating Dokdo as if it were Japanese territory on the Tokyo Olympics website is unacceptable."

The spokesperson said Seoul will continue monitoring this matter leading up to the Olympics, pledging "active and necessary" measures in consultation with related organizations like the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee.

A map of Japan outlining the torch relay route posted on the Tokyo Olympics website indicates Dokdo by a small dot above Shimane Prefecture.

On May 24, the ministry asked for an immediate revision of the map to the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, but Tokyo maintained its stance that the request was unacceptable.

hlee10@korea.kr