The Japanese government reopened promotional facilities that had been established seven years ago to assert an unjust claim over Dokdo. The South Korean government has continuously demanded the closure of the facilities.
On the 18th, the Japanese government revitalized and reopened the "Territory and Sovereignty Exhibition Hall" located on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Toranomon Mitsui Building in Chiyoda, Tokyo.
The exhibition hall, which primarily featured panel installations, has been newly equipped with animation video facilities and an immersive theater.
The immersive theater features about 10 projectors that project video onto a total of five surfaces, including three walls, the ceiling, and the floor, except for the entrance, creating a sense of being present.
In the case of Dokdo, it is said to vividly recreate the scenery viewed from above and the underwater nature.
The newly adopted animation video showcases Dokdo and the Senkaku Islands and the Kuril Islands, which Japan claims as its territory, in an area called the "History Wall."
On the side of Dokdo, scenes are shown of local fishermen capturing sea lions and the endangered species known as the Dokdo Seal in the past.
This is interpreted as an attempt to instill a misguided perception in future generations that "Dokdo is Japanese territory" along with emotional affection for Dokdo.
This exhibition hall was originally opened in January 2018 at the basement level of the Hibiya Park City Hall, covering an area of 100 square meters (about 30.25 pyeong) to promote and publicize claims of territorial rights over areas such as Dokdo, which the Japanese government asserts as its own territory.
At that time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement through its spokesperson demanding the immediate closure.
However, the Japanese government expanded the exhibition hall to nearly seven times its original size in January 2020 and transferred it to its current location, prompting the South Korean government to once again express its protest through a statement.
On this day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret over the reopening, stating, "We urge immediate closure."