울도군수 심흥택의 치적과 ‘독도 보고서’의 법·역사적 의미

Abstract

In March 1906, Shim Heungtaek, the governor of Uldo-county, submitted a report beginning with “Dokdo belonging to this county” (hereafter referred to as the Dokdo Report) to the department of the interior and to the Gangwon-do provincial governor. This report is important to acknowledge the fact that it was the first use of the name, ‘Dokdo’ in the Korean literature in line with its first awareness of and response to Japan's annexation of Dokdo in 1905. This article aims to explore the significance of legal and historical aspects of the Dokdo Report by reviewing the achievements of Uldo-county governor Shim Heungtaek, the Ullengdo’s social situation of his time, and the contents of the Dokdo Report. The report can confirm that ‘Dokdo’ was officially used as an administrative place name in 1906, and that the name was commonly used among the Korean people in Ulleungdo at that time. In addition, the governor Shim’s immediate countermeasures against Japan's claim to annex the territory of Dokdo can show that he clearly recognized Dokdo as part of his jurisdiction. Moreover, based on the governor Shim’s report, the Korean Empire issued an order to investigate and report the situation of Ulleungdo, and the Japanese resident-general also inquired about the history of the establishment of Uldo-county and the islands belonging to Ulleungdo. Shim Heungtaek, despite the difficult living conditions of Ulleungdo, served as the Uldo governor for a long period of about four years and two months, reorganizing the administrative system of Uldo-county and faithfully fulfilling his role as a local official during the country’s decline.