■ Name: Dokdo. Alternate Romanization: Tokdo, Tokto.

Dokdo has had several different names depending on who was referring to them and at what time in history.

In the past, Koreans have variously used Usando, Sambongdo, Seokdo and Gajido ("-do" means "island"). The reason there was no continuity in these names was because, until this century, there was no residents on the Island. The first mention in official texts was as Usando in 512 in connection with a state known as Usanguk, which was incorporated into Korea's Shilla Dynasty (57 BC to 935 AD).

Some historical texts describe Dokdo as having three peaks when viewed from a certain angle - hence the name Sambongdo, which means "island of three peaks" (even though now it's most known for two main craggy peaks). The "gaji" in Gajido comes from the old Korean word for seal. Seokdo and Dokdo is two different Chinese translations of the same Korean word - Dokseom - which means "rocky island" in the dialect used by the people of the nearest inhabited island, Ulleungdo.

When translated from Chinese characters on the basis of pronunciation, Dokseom became Dokdo, and this name became commonly used around 1882.

■ European

Since 1849, a French whale hunter later christened the grouping as the "Liancourt Rocks." This name continues to be used in some Western books and maps. In 1855, a British expedition named Dokdo the "Hornet Rocks" after the expedition's ship, the Hornet.

■ Japanese

Since at least 1905, the Japanese have referred to the Island as "Takeshima," but previous names included "Yanggo" and the "Liancourt" island.

■ Location

Dokdo is 87.4 kilometers (47.2 miles) from Ulleungdo.

On clear days, it is visible from Ulleungdo. The closest Japanese island, Oki, is 157.5 kilometers (85.0 miles) to the southeast.

Dokdo is composed of two main islands that are 151 meters apart. Their total area is 187,453 square meters. Dongdo, or the east island, is 98.6 meters high. Seodo, the west island, is 168.5 meters high.

The weather is turbulent around Dokdo, prone to brisk winds and rough seas that can frequently prevent boats from docking.

■ Administration

The Republic of Korea has maintained a police station and a lighthouse on Dokdo since August 1954. A helicopter pad was constructed later.

The island fall under the jurisdiction of Ulleungdo and Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency. The two-story lighthouse is equipped with Internet. Mobile phone service also extends to Dokdo.

The Korean military constantly monitors approaching ships and airplanes and responds if there is an attempt to illegally encroach. For example, the Air Force dispatched fighters in March 2005 after a civilian plane carrying Japanese media approached Dokdo without permission to enter the airspace around Dokdo.

■ Ecology

Dokdo's volcanic rocks are covered with thin soil and moss that produce a small amount of fresh water. Around 80 species of plants and 37 species of insects have been recorded on the island along with 22 species of birds.

Just off Dokdo, cold and warm ocean currents meet, and a diverse community of marine organisms, along with 100 species of fish, lives in the waters.

In 1999, the Korean government designated Dokdo as an environmentally protected area in accordance with the Protection of Cultural Properties Act. Dokdo was also recognized under a special act of the Preservation of the Ecosystem of Dokdo and other Island Groups in 2000.

Since the early 1970s, environmental groups have planted trees and flowers, daubing Dokdo's volcanic rock with splashes of color.

■ Consolidation of Korean Sovereignty over Dokdo

In 512 A.D., the Silla Kingdom conquered Usanguk (Usan State), of which the main part was Ulleungdo. Since then, the Korean people have considered Dokdo to be a part of Ulleungdo.

The subsequent Korean states, namely the Goryeo Dynasty (918~1392), the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1897), the Daehan (or Korean) Empire (1897~1910) and the Republic of Korea (since 1948), have exercised sovereignty over Dokdo.

■ Historical Documents Proving Korea's Sovereignty over Dokdo

Among the numerous historical documents showing that Dokdo has been an integral part of Korea since ancient times, the following are the most important official documents:

Samguksagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) is an official history book written in 1145 A.D. on the Three Kingdoms of Korea, namely the Silla (57 B.C. to 935 A.D.), Goguryeo (37 B.C. to 668 A.D.), and Baekje (18 B.C. to 660 A.D.) kingdoms. This book, edited by Kim Busik, a historian and the then prime minister of the Goryeo Kingdom, contains the story of the conquest of Usanguk in 512 A.D. by Isabu, a general of the Silla Dynasty under the reign of King Jijeung.

* Sillok, which is mentioned in the following references, means annals, or historical records, compiled and published by the government throughout the time of the Joseon Dynasty. Each king's name was added before the word sillok, in order to indicate that it covered the history of the Dynasty during the reign of that king.

Sejong Sillok Jiriji was compiled as part of the Annals of King Sejong (1418~1450) of the Joseon Dynasty. The Jiriji (geography book) contains a variety of information needed to govern the country, such as the administrative history of each local government, the topographical features of administrative units, their populations, and roads. The book refers to Dokdo and Ulleungdo as follows: "Usan [Dokdo] and Mureung [a former name of Ulleungdo] are located in the middle of the sea, due east of this Prefecture. These two islands can be seen from each other in good weather, as they are not far apart."

According to Seongjong Sillok, the Annals of King Seongjong (1469~1494), an official investigative team sailed for Sambongdo (Dokdo) and reported to the royal court as follows: "We dropped anchor at seven or eight li [about three kilometers; one li equals 400 meters] west of the island We drew a picture of the island and came back."

Sinjeung Donggukyeojiseungnam (The Revised and Augmented Version of the Survey of the National Geography of Korea) was published in 1531 as an enlarged edition of the 1481 Donggukyeojiseungnam (Survey of the National Geography of Korea), which dealt with Korea's cultural geography, such as historical figures associated with different areas and poetical works inspired by the local scenery. As in the above mentioned excerpt from Sejong Sillok Jiriji, this book describes Dokdo and Ulleungdo as part of the Korean territory in the East Sea, and states: "The two islands are located in the middle of the sea, due east."

According to Sukjong Sillok, the Annals of King Sukjong (1674~1720), Ahn Yongbok rebuked some Japanese fishermen for staying at Ulleungdo and Dokdo and warned them against returning to these islands in the future. Sukjong Sillok further records that Ahn Yongbok went twice to Japan in order to protest against Japanese nationals trespassing into Korean territory. He asked the Japanese authorities to recognize Korea's sovereignty over these islands and to forbid Japanese nationals to sail to these islands. Consequently, the Japanese Government prohibited its nationals from sailing to the Ulleungdo region.

Jeongjo Sillok, the Annals of Jeongjo (1776~1800), reports that, following Ahn Yongbok's actions, inspectors were dispatched every three years by the Government to Ulleungdo and Gajido (Dokdo).

Imperial Decree No. 41 was issued in 1900 by Emperor Gojong (1864~1907) of the Daehan Empire as a measure to reform the traditional administrative system. This Decree placed Dokdo under the jurisdiction of the Ulleungdo County office. The Decree stipulates: "the Headman of Uldo [a newly designated County of Ulleungdo] shall have jurisdiction over Ulleungdo, Jukdo and Seokdo [Dokdo]"