The government on Feb. 22 urged the immediate abolition of "Takeshima (Dokdo) Day" hosted by Shimane Prefecture of Japan. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

By Kim Eun-young and Yoon Sojung

The government on Feb. 22 blasted the hosting of "Takeshima (Dokdo) Day" by Japan's Shimane Prefecture in which a high-ranking Japanese official attended, urging an immediate abolition of the event.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Choi Youngsam said in a written statement, "The Korean government strongly protests Japan's repeated futile provocations over Dokdo (Island) and sternly urges an immediate abolition of the event."

"As Dokdo is clearly an integral part of Korean territory historically, geographically and under international law, the Japanese government must stop making unjustified and farfetched claims over Dokdo immediately and squarely face history in a humble manner."

Later that day, Lee Sang-ryol, the ministry's director-general for Asian and Pacific affairs, summoned Naoki Kumagai, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to lodge a complaint.

Debuting the event in 2005, Shimane since 2006 has hosted it every year on Feb. 22 to lay claim to Dokdo. A vice-ministerial level official from Japan's central government has attended the event since 2013, with Hiroo Kodera, a parliamentary vice minister of the Cabinet Office of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, going this year.

eykim86@korea.kr