거문도인의 독도 조업 - 김윤삼⋅박운학의 증언을 중심으로 –

Abstract

The People of Port Hamilton had long built ships on Ulleungdo Island, and had hunted of seals in Dokdo. But they left no record. In 1900, the Joseon government banned the shipbuilding on Ulleungdo island. In addition, by the Japanese woodcutter's reckless deforestation, wood was depleted on Ulleung Island. Then, the history of Port Hamilton people’s going over to the Dokdo has been erased. The history became known to the public through media interviews of two old men of Port Hamilton in 1960’s. They testified they had been Dokdo until 1903, since 1895. This is consistent with the situation of the time before the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. They hunted for seals and gathered seaweed in Dokdo. Seal oil was a high-priced commodity for Port Hamilton people who were engaged in maritime trade. Port Hamilton people said that Dokdo was 'two large island and several small island, and they ‘worked with boat between two large islands'. This statement is consistent with Dokdo’s true appearance and adds credibility of the statement. Ulleungdo was a treasure island, and Dokdo was hereditary fishing grounds to Port Hamilton people. Not only before but after the Ulleungdo Immigration Order, it was the people of Port Hamilton who played a major role in defending the Ulleungdo and Dokdo. Port Hamilton people’s fishing activity after the Ulleungdo Immigration Order could be interpreted as effective control under international law. It was also the Port Hamilton people who fought against the Japanese woodcutter on the vanguard. Frequent clashes with Japanese woodcutters drew attention from the central government, which contributed considerably in promulgating the Korean Empire Ordinance 41 of 1900.