Turning to Arirang now, a collection of maps that support Korea’s claim to Dokdo has gone on display at the National Assembly,… just days before the country celebrates its liberation from Japan 70 years ago. Park Ji-won reports.
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Japanese historian Kuboi's maps show Dokdo as Korean territory

You can see about 90 maps from Europe, Korea and Japan,.. dating from the 16th century to the 20th century.

The Dokdo Foundation and a National Assembly special committee are co-hosting the exhibit.
Japanese historian Norio Kuboi has been collecting the maps for around 30 years.

He says historical documents clearly show Dokdo is Korean territory.

Korea's two eastern islands,.. Ulleungdo and Dokdo.. are clearly marked on this map of Korea from the early 18th century,.. proving the islands are Korean territory.

This map made in 1895 by a German scholar also shows Dokdo,.. then labeled as the Liancourt Rocks,… as belonging to Korea.

The rocks are shaded in light purple, the same color of Korea on the map. Japanese maps also prove Japan did not consider Dokdo its territory.

Japan made this map in 1811,… neither Ulleung Island or Dokdo are outlined with any color, indicating they're not Japanese territory.

This official map by Japan's interior department in 1880 did not include Dokdo as its territory.
Another map from 1905 identified the two islands as Korean territory.

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Yoo Chung-hun

Kuboi says after conducting his own research,.. he became convinced Dokdo belongs to Korea.

[INTERVIEW]
Norio Kuboi / Historian
(JAPANESE)
"The Japanese government has named Dokdo as Japan's Takeshima,.. and ordered Japanese teachers to say it belongs to Japan. But I couldn't teach wrong facts."

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Kubio stands by his research despite death threats in Japan

Kuboi said the Japanese government has never released these documents,.. but relies on a few, unorthdox documents to prove Dokdo has belonged to Japan.

He has even received death threats from far-rightists in his own country over his work to prove Dokdo is Korean territory.

[REPORTER]
Park, Ji-won

But the fearless scholar has not backed down. He says he wants people to know the true history.

[INTERVIEW]
Norio Kuboi / Historian
(JAPANESE)
"As a historian, I'm convinced Dokdo is Korean territory, and I think it's wrong that Japan teaches its people that the island belongs to Japan."

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Event runs through Aug. 13 at National Assembly Members' Office Building

The exhibition continues until Thursday at the lobby of National Assembly Members' Office Building.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.