Dokdo Gains Attention Again with the Shilla National March to Celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Liberation! | Walking the Breath of History
๐ฉ Dokdo, once again gaining attention through Silla University’s National Trek for the 80th anniversary of Liberation!
๐ Table of Contents
๐ Why Dokdo Now?
Everyone! Even at this moment, there is an island calling us from the middle of the East Sea. That is ‘Dokdo’! Despite the territorial disputes with Japan, our land, Dokdo, is regaining attention as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation. ๐ฐ๐ท
Notably, Silla University students successfully completed a 500km trek on foot from Busan to Dokdo, stirring up much interest. (Let’s set aside the pain in my feet…) Shall we explore how remarkable this is together?
๐ The 500km Challenge of Silla University Students
In August 2025, more than 50 students and faculty from Silla University embarked on the project “Proving Dokdo by Foot”. This three-week journey, following the route from Busan to Gyeongju, Pohang, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo, was reminiscent of the paths taken by diplomats during the Three Kingdoms era!
Participants reportedly endured an average of 25km of walking each day, chanting the slogan, “Even if blisters form, our love for Dokdo remains unscathed.” (We all know how real those blisters are… ๐ )
โป๏ธ From Plogging to Patriot Campaigns
This was not just a simple walking event! Participants also engaged in Plogging, which involves picking up litter while jogging, along with a nationwide campaign promoting that ‘Dokdo is our land.’
- ๐ฎ A total of 120kg of trash collected (The East Coast is now much cleaner!)
- ๐ข A quiz event on Dokdo with 5,000 people across 8 cities
- ๐ธ #DokdoChallenge social media spread (Join in too!)
Especially touching was the testimony from an elderly man on Ulleungdo who began with, “When I lived on Dokdo in the 1950s…”, which moved everyone deeply. It seems that experiencing history firsthand is the real truth!
๐ The Shouts of Liberation Day on Dokdo
The highlight of the trek was undoubtedly the national anthem echoing on Dokdo on August 15th, Liberation Day! Participants waved the Korean flag together with the 59 residents and security personnel currently stationed on Dokdo, reflecting on the meaning of liberation.
“As I felt the wind of Dokdo, I was overwhelmed. I couldnโt believe that the island I had only seen in textbooks was beneath my feet” – participant Kim.
Following this event, an astonishing 300% increase in applications to visit Dokdo was reported… (Next year it might be even harder to get tickets! ๐ข)
โ Dokdo Q&A
Q. Are there actually people living on Dokdo?
A. Yes! About 40 residents and 19 security personnel live there, with families like the Kim and Choi clans being representative. For more details, check out the Dokdo Office!
Q. Can the general public visit Dokdo?
A. You need to use the tour boats departing from Ulleungdo! However, trips can be canceled due to weather conditions, so prepare yourself like the Silla students did. (My friend experienced three cancellations ๐ญ)
Q. Why does Japan keep claiming Dokdo?
A. Because they are distorting historical data. Check out Imperial Decree No. 41 of the Korean Empire from 1900! You can clearly see that Dokdo is undeniably our territory.
โ๏ธ In Conclusion
Silla University’s event was not just a simple ‘walking event’, but an educational experience in living history. With more universities set to participate next year, how about you take up the challenge as well?
PS. If youโre visiting Dokdo, be sure to check out the scenic cafรฉs along the East Coast! Itโs perfect for thinking about Dokdo while enjoying the sea. ๐
