The cluster of contentious islets in the East Sea have become the subject of a new documentary called, "I'm
Sorry, Dokdo", which will premiere at the end of this month.
The documentary chronicles the efforts of ordinary citizens tirelessly promoting the rocky islets as territories of Korea.
This is the first documentary to tackle the subject of the hotly contested islets. Production began 17 months ago and has post-production has recently been finished.
Singer and celebrity activist
Kim Jang-hoon's role as narrator has sparked media interest in the project. Kim made headlines earlier this year when he funded a full page ad in the New York Times newspaper promoting Dokdo as Korean territory.
Produced by PR guru Seo Gyeong-deok and directed by
Choi Hyeon-mook, the project recently became embroiled in controversy due to its poster, which was deemed exploitative by the Korea Media Rating Board as trying to provoke anti-Japan sentiment in Koreans.
The movie poster depicts the Dokdo islets inside a bowl of Japanese ramen with the Japanese flag planted on the peak of the main islet. Accompanying the image is the slug "Thank you for the meal", in Japanese, with a Korean translation above.
According to Gio entertainment, the production company behind the financing of the documentary, "It was our intent to send a clear message regarding Dokdo as Korean territory and it's unfortunate the poster wasn't given the green-light by the KMRB. We will re-conceptualize the imagery in the poster and edit the copy".
The film follows Dokdo residents Kim Seong-do and his wife, along with the family of his grandchildren; an elementary school boy attempting to spread the word through his pen-pals around the world; an 80 year-old man learning English to educate people from abroad about Dokdo as Korean territory; and other ordinary citizens trying to spread awareness that the islets are part of Korea.
The film is just the latest in Korea's effort to battle Japan's attempts to claim ownership of Dokdo. Japan has been aggressive with their push for the rocky islets to be officially pronounced as part of its maritime territory in international forums while the Korean government has been relatively quiet over the issue. For the past three years Japan's claim to the islets has become more insistent. In 2005, the legislature of Shimane prefecture passed a resolution to declare "Takeshima (the Japanese name of Dokdo) Day", sparking vehement protests from Koreans. Because the government's reaction to Japan's provocations has been ineffective, many private citizens have organized their own plans to create awareness of the rocky islets as territories of Korea.
"I'm
Sorry, Dokdo", will aim to revitalize interest in the controversial topic and is expected to create much needed visibility to the public.
The film opens Dec. 31 in select theaters across the nation.
By Song Woong-ki
