Annoying game, ‘Takeshima Recapture!’

Modify game and post a written apology on Twitter!

On February 22, 2016, you, ‘Team Takeshima’, made a game named ‘Takeshima Recapture!’ and distributed it on Twitter for free for educational purpose. Main story of this game is for Japanese girls to defeat ‘Lee Sho Ban(リショ―バン) great king’ and recapture Dokdo(=Takeshima). As you know, this game aroused intense antipathy and anger among Koreans including me. This is because this game contains so many one-sided, unethical, historical, and political issues.

I’m Jung Hyun Seok, high school student of Republic of Korea. From now on, I’m going to reveal one-sided, unethical, historical, and political issues in the game with objective evidences. So after you read this petition, consider modifying those issues and post a written apology on Twitter.

Above all, when you start the game, we can see an explanation, “This game is a fiction and is not related to real organization, person, and country.” However, ‘Takeshima’ is a Japanese name of ‘Dokdo’, which is real existing island in East Asia. Also, characters in the game, ‘Lee Sho Ban(リショ―バン) great king’(Lee Sho Ban is Japanese name of Lee Syng Man, the first president of Republic of Korea) and ‘Min-bi(ミンピ―)’ are real person of Korean history. So, you, Team Takeshima has to acknowledge that this game reflects reality.

Then, firstly, the soldiers who were killed by Japanese girls in the game were Korean soldiers called “Pojol” in Chosun dynasty. When you notice that, ‘Takeshima Recapture!’ is an unethical game that makes Japanese citizens kill Korean citizens. Japan is a member country of UN. In UN charter, the first chapter, Article 1 is stating UN’s purpose of establishment of international peace, friendship and etc. Japan is an influential country of UN. I hope Team Takeshima to show corresponsive dignity and behavior of it.

Secondly, in the game, following statement is mentioned. “It’s Min-bi(ミンピ―)… wicked woman who tried to keep Yangban(aristocrat in Chosun dynasty)’s privilege!” ‘Min-bi(ミンピ―)’ is ‘Myeongseong Hwanghu’ and a wife of Chosun dynasty’s king, Gojong. She was killed by Japanese who had ambition of colonizing Korea. Westerners’ assessments to her were mostly positive in thesis ‘The Political Status and the Role of Empress Myeongseong Hwanghu - As examined from the Travel records of the Westerners’. Assessments of Myeongseong Hwanghu in Korea are various. Defence and criticism coexist. This is a controversial issue. So do not mention your opinion in the game as if it is a fact.

Finally, it’s about Dokdo(=Takeshima). In the game, you mentioned that in 1952, Lee Syng Man, the first president of Republic of Korea, illegally occupied Dokdo by ‘Lee Syng Man line’. This opinion is not essential. During Russo-Japanese War, Japan recognized Dokdo’s strategic significance and in 1905, Japan occupied Dokdo by Shimane Prefecture Notification No. 40. At that time, Japan suggested ‘doctrine of terra nullius’ as basis. However, Dokdo was not a terra nullius. In 1900, Gojong confirmed Dokdo as a Korean Empire territory by Korean Empire royal order No. 41. Also, there are many historical materials in Korea and even in Japan that prove Dokdo as a Korean territory. In short, Japan’s Dokdo occupation by Shimane Prefecture Notification No. 40 was illegal itself. For these reason, I think Japan has no reason to recapture Dokdo. Regardless of my opinion, now, Dokdo is extremely controversial territory. Both Korean and Japanese’s emotion were heightened. Once more, I hope Team Takeshima to show corresponsive dignity and behavior as an influential country of UN which pursues international peace and friendship.

As I showed, ‘Takeshima Recapture!’ includes one-sided, unethical, historical, and political issues. These issues were very sensitive and controversial. To you, Team Takeshima, some parts of my opinion will be acceptable, and the other parts will be not. However, consider that my opinion is fact-based. Therefore, consider modifying those issues and post a written apology on Twitter. I always hope relationship between Korea and Japan to be friendly.

Sincerely yours, Jung Hyun

- References

Jang Young-Sook (2005). The Political Status and the Role of Empress Myeongseong Hwanghu – As examined from the Travel records of the Westerners. Journal of Korean Modern and Contemporary History, 35, 7-31.

Kwak Jin-o (2014). Shimane Prefecture Notification No. 40 and Japan’s Dokdo understanding problem. The Association of North-east Asian Cultures international academic conference presentation source book, 472-476.

Seo Young-hee (2002). Historical person- Myeongseong Hwanghu revaluation. History criticism, 328-350.

Kim, Suhee (2015). Island ‘Discovery’ and ‘Name Change’ Addopted by ‘Terra Nullius’ Legal Principle in East Sea. Territory and seas, 10, 64-85.