Historical Documents Reveal Japan's Official Use of "Chosun Sea" Before 1910

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Korean Reading Practice
Historical Documents Reveal Japan's Official Use of "Chosun Sea" Before 1910
Date: October 12, 2026

Introduction

This article explores a historical dispute over the name of Korea's territorial waters. It presents evidence that Japan's own government once officially used the name "Chosun Sea" (조선해) to refer to what Korea calls the East Sea, rather than the "Sea of Japan" that Japan uses today. The discovery of historical Japanese government documents offers a unique perspective on this long-standing geographical and political disagreement between Korea and Japan.

Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
영토 yeongto territory 우리나라의 영토는 한반도입니다.Our country's territory is the Korean Peninsula.
해역 haeyeok sea area; territorial waters 한국의 해역을 보호하는 것이 중요합니다.It is important to protect Korea's territorial waters.
정식적으로 jeongsikjeogeuro formally; officially 정부가 정식적으로 발표했습니다.The government announced it formally.
관보 gwanbo government gazette; official bulletin 관보에 새로운 법령이 실렸습니다.A new ordinance was published in the government gazette.
발견하다 balgyeonhada to discover; to find 역사 자료를 발견했어요.I discovered historical materials.
어업 eoeop fishery; fishing industry 어업협회가 설립되었습니다.A fisheries association was established.
법령 beomnyeong law; ordinance; decree 새로운 법령이 시행되었습니다.A new law was enacted.
인정하다 injeonghada to recognize; to acknowledge 국제사회가 그 사실을 인정했습니다.The international community recognized that fact.
회복하다 hoebokhada to recover; to regain 한국이 독립을 회복했습니다.Korea recovered its independence.
주장하다 jujanghada to claim; to maintain; to insist 일본이 자신의 입장을 주장합니다.Japan maintains its position.
논란 nollan dispute; controversy; debate 이 문제는 오랫동안 논란이 되었습니다.This issue has been controversial for a long time.
이중 명칭 ijung myeongching dual designation; dual naming 이중 명칭을 사용하기로 합의했습니다.They agreed to use dual designation.

Reading Text

동해의 이름을 둘러싼 한일 간의 오랜 논란 속에서 흥미로운 역사적 증거가 제시되었습니다.

A significant historical piece of evidence has been presented in the long-standing dispute between Korea and Japan over the name of the East Sea.

이상태 한국영토학회 회장이자 국사편찬위원회 산하 역사자료실 전 소장은 동해연구회와 동북아역사재단이 개최한 국제 세미나에서 "일본도 동해 명칭을 정식적으로 사용하였다"는 제목의 논문을 발표했습니다.

Lee Sang-tae, chairman of the Korean Territory Studies Association and former director of the Historical Materials Research Office, presented a paper titled "Japan Also Formally Used the Name East Sea" at an international seminar hosted by the East Sea Research Association and the Northeast Asia History Foundation.

이 논문의 핵심은 1902년 일본 정부가 발행한 관보 두 건에서 찾을 수 있습니다.

The core of this paper can be found in two Japanese government gazettes published in 1902.

1902년 9월 1일자 관보 제5749호에는 조선해어업협회가 외국영토수역어업협회법에 따라 설립될 수 있다는 내용이 실렸고, 같은 해 12월 18일자 관보 제5839호에는 조선해어업협회의 설립을 인가한다는 내용이 기재되었습니다.

The September 1, 1902 gazette (issue 5749) stated that a Chosun Sea Fisheries Association could be established under the Foreign Territorial Waters Fisheries Association Law, and the December 18, 1902 gazette (issue 5839) recorded the approval of the Chosun Sea Fisheries Association's establishment.

이 협회는 1902년부터 1911년까지 존속하였으며, 이 기간은 일본이 한국의 해역을 공식적으로 "조선해"라고 인정했던 시기였습니다.

This association existed from 1902 to 1911, a period when Japan officially recognized Korea's territorial waters as the "Chosun Sea."

그러나 1910년 한국 제국이 멸망한 이후 상황이 달라졌습니다.

However, the situation changed after the Korean Empire collapsed in 1910.

일본의 통치 아래에서 한국의 해역은 "일본해"로 표기되기 시작했고, 이후 한국이 1948년 영토와 해역을 회복한 이후에도 이 명칭 논란은 계속되었습니다.

Under Japanese control, Korea's territorial waters began to be designated as the "Sea of Japan," and even after Korea recovered its territory and territorial waters in 1948, this naming dispute has continued.

현재 한국 정부는 국제적 사용에서 "동해"와 "일본해"의 이중 명칭을 요청하고 있지만, 일본은 "일본해"의 단독 사용을 주장하고 있습니다.

Currently, the South Korean government requests dual designation of "East Sea" and "Sea of Japan" in international usage, but Japan insists on the sole use of "Sea of Japan."

Cultural Notes

The East Sea naming dispute reflects a deeper tension in Korean-Japanese relations rooted in Korea's colonial period (1910–1945) under Japanese rule. The recovery of territorial and geographical naming rights is symbolically important to Korea's national identity and sovereignty. In Korean education and official contexts, the name "동해" (East Sea) is taught as the correct term, and the dispute over international map designations remains an active diplomatic issue that touches on questions of historical recognition and national pride.

Topics are inspired by current events in Korea. All lessons are original learning content written by Learn Korean Today.
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📝 Comprehension Questions

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Q1

What was the title of the paper that Lee Sang-tae presented at the international seminar?

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Q2

In what year did Japan establish the Chosun Sea Fisheries Association, and what law allowed for its establishment?

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Q3

How long did the Chosun Sea Fisheries Association exist, and what does this period represent historically?

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Q4

What major event in 1910 changed Japan's official designation of Korea's territorial waters?

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Q5

What is the current difference between Korea's and Japan's positions regarding the name of the East Sea?

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