President Lee Jae-myung: "Dokdo is Clearly Korean Territory, Not a Territorial Dispute"

President Lee Jae-myung clarified his stance on the territorial sovereignty of Dokdo during his first official press conference with Japanese reporters.

On the 3rd, President Lee held his first official press conference at the Blue House's state guesthouse, 30 days after his inauguration.

During the press conference, a journalist from Japan's Sankei Shimbun asked about Korea-Japan cooperation.

In response, President Lee stated, "(Both countries) are suffering from the pain of past history. We need to approach this with a flexible and rational attitude." He further noted that "(Both countries) are exposed to the threats of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and they share a special alliance relationship with the United States," mentioning the common security interests between the two nations.

He added, "There are many instances where we share strategic and military interests, and there is also plenty of room for economic cooperation."

President Lee also expressed his views on Dokdo.

He stated, "There is also a territorial dispute surrounding Dokdo. However, (Dokdo is) clearly Korean territory effectively controlled by the Republic of Korea, so it is not a dispute, but rather a minor debate," emphasizing that "there is no need to mix these issues with diplomatic cooperation."

Regarding his planned visit to Japan, he explained, "I had intended to visit Japan soon, but they said they are very busy due to elections, so we have not been able to confirm a date."

Notably, President Lee said, "I was the first to mention the restoration of shuttle diplomacy," adding, "Since it is a neighboring country, I hope we can communicate frequently without going through a complicated process to reduce misunderstandings."

Korea-Japan shuttle diplomacy is a diplomatic method where the leaders of both countries visit each other regularly to discuss current issues. This diplomacy has been suspended since 2011 but was partially resumed during former President Yoon Suk-yeol's term in 2023.

Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung held his first press conference earlier than any other president in history. Previous presidents typically held their first official press conference around 100 days after taking office.

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office on May 10, 2022, conducted his 100-day press conference on August 17 of that year at the Yongsan Presidential Office, while former President Moon Jae-in, who was inaugurated on May 10, 2017, held his 100-day press conference at the Blue House state guesthouse on August 17 of that year.

Image source: MBC, News1, on the morning of July 3, citizens watch a live broadcast of President Lee Jae-myung’s ‘one-month in office’ press conference at Seoul Station's concourse. 2025.7.3 / News1