Dear Editor,
I refer to the article , "Review: Memoirs of a Geisha" of January 17 in the Jamaica Observer web site, and feel compelled to draw your attention to the mistaken use of the appellation "Sea of Japan".

Historically, the sea area between the Korean peninsula and the Japanese archipelago has been called the "East Sea" in Korea for more than 2,000 years. Until the 19th century, this sea area was called such names as the "Sea of Korea," the "East Sea", or the "Oriental Sea" in maps published in Europe. The name "Sea of Japan", however, was not widely used. Even in Japan, no such name as the "Sea of Japan" existed until the mid-19th century.

Apart from the historical validity of the use of the "East Sea", the Republic of Korea underlines that it is inappropriate to name a sea area surrounded by many countries after a single country.

Lying between Korea and Japan and extending north toward Russia, the body of water in question is divided into either territorial waters or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the countries encircling it. There is no possible justification for naming the sea after one particular country, without the consent of the surrounding countries.

However, pending a final agreement on a common name for the sea in question, the Republic of Korea is of the view that, as an interim measure, both "East Sea" and "Sea of Japan" should be used simultaneously in accordance with the general rules of international cartography.

Indeed, this view is in line with the resolutions adopted by the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) and the UN Conference on the Standardisation of Geographical Names (UNCSGN), two authoritative international bodies in the area of the standardisation of geographical names.

The resolutions clearly recommend that when countries sharing a given geographical feature fail to agree on a common name, competing names should be concurrently used.

In this regard, I would also bring to your attention that an increasing number of the world's prominent mapmakers, newspapers, publications, and mass media outlets are recognising these facts and evidence. Rand McNally, Encyclopedia Britannica, USA Today, Le Figaro, and the Financial Times are just some recent examples of those who adopted the simultaneous use of the "East Sea" and the "Sea of Japan" in their maps and publications.

Chong Rok PARK
Director General
National Oceanographic Research Institute
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Republic of Korea

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