New Dokdo guardian calls defending islets his `destiny`

“My family has had a calling to defend this country for generations. I want to go to Dokdo to do my duty of national defense, though I`m a police officer and not a soldier. Maybe it’s in my blood.”

Yoo Dan-hee, 54, superintendent of the Hyehwa Police Station in Seoul, gave a solemn look after being appointed chief of the Ulleung Coast Guard Wednesday. The maritime unit had been headed by a deputy superintendent but this time, the rank of the unit chief has been upgraded one notch to a superintendent-level officer in an attempt to strengthen Korea’s commitment to and capability of defending Dokdo, the country’s easternmost islets to which Japan has claimed.

The head of the Dokdo Coast Guard has also been promoted to a deputy superintendent-level officer.

Amid strained relations between Korea and Japan in the wake of Japan’s renewed political provocation over Dokdo, a ceremony for four senior officers for the Ulleung and Dokdo Coast Guard units was held Wednesday at the National Policy Agency’s headquarters in downtown Seoul.

Yoo is a direct descendent of the 16-century Korean admiral Yoo Hyeong, who served under Admiral Yi Sun-shin as deputy commander of the Joseon navy in the Battle of Noryang, the last major battle of the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598). Born into a family of warriors with nine admirals, Yoo said he visits the altar and grave of Yoo Hyeong in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province twice a year.

“Every time I meet my ancestor, I remind myself of the spirit of national defense,” he said.

The chief of the Ulleung Coast Guard usually stays in Ulleung and visits Dokdo about two times a month to encourage Dokdo maritime police and check the situation.

“So far, the defense of Dokdo has been conducted too passively. We should also be active in letting the world know the hard fact that Dokdo is Korean territory,” said Yoo Dan-hee.

“In addition to conducting basic security duty, I will try to win support from the international community and the Korean public by informing visitors to Dokdo of various facts about the islets.”

sunggyu@donga.com