A photograph of the first sunrise of 2025 taken at Dokdo
SEOUL, Jan. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s easternmost territory, Dokdo, once again became the first location in the country to witness the sunrise in 2025. Known as the “lonely island,” Dokdo stands resolutely in the East Sea, marking the dawn of the new year for the Korean Peninsula.
Historically recognized as South Korean territory, Dokdo was designated as an annexed islet of Ulleungdo under Imperial Edict No. 41 issued by Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire on October 25, 1900.
A photograph of the first sunrise of 2025 taken at Dokdo
Ulleungdo, Dokdo’s neighboring island, houses the Dokdo Museum and the Dokdo Volunteer Guard Memorial Hall, honoring the 33 young defenders who resisted Japan’s territorial encroachments over 3 years and 8 months.
Professor Seo Kyung-duk, a prominent South Korean public relations expert and activist, shared a photograph of the year’s first sunrise over Dokdo on social media. “This image was captured by a colleague stationed on Dokdo this morning,” Seo wrote on January 1.
He emphasized that the photograph serves as another testament to South Korea’s sovereignty over the island, noting, “Only we, who effectively govern Dokdo, can capture such moments.”
Seo also unveiled plans for global campaigns to promote Dokdo’s significance in 2025. These include an international release of a “Dokdo Animation” and a large-scale drone show between Dokdo’s East and West islets to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule.
The aerial display, designed to showcase Dokdo’s beauty, will be produced in multiple languages and distributed widely online to reach a global audience.
Through these efforts, South Korea continues to affirm its claim over Dokdo while celebrating its historical and cultural importance on the international stage.
Image credit: Instagram account of Professor Seo Kyung-duk, Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
