By The Dokdo nonsense has been brought now all the way to New York’s Times Square:
A video advertisement advocating Korea’s sovereignty over the Dokdo islets in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) went up on a Times Square billboard in the heart of New York City beginning yesterday, local time, to mark the anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement of 1919.
Many advertisers regard the colorful billboards in Times Square as some of the world’s best spots to catch the attention of passersby. A 30-second video titled “Dokdo is part of Korea” will be played twice an hour, 48 times a day, on the billboard on which CNN broadcasts news throughout the day.
Sovereignty over the islets is a subject of dispute between the Korean and Japanese governments. The islets are under the protection of the Korean Coast Guard.
The video begins with a crossword puzzle with the names of islands and the countries they belong to: Hawaii and America; Sicily and Italy; Bali and Indonesia; and Dokdo and Korea. It ends with the message “Visit Dokdo, the beautiful island of Korea.”
All expenses, including the billboard rental and video production costs, were paid by pop singer Kim Jang-hoon, an advocate of Korea’s sovereignty over Dokdo. The billboard space will be leased for four months. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
I have visited Dokdo and I can say without a doubt that for the average American there is absolutely no value in visiting Dokdo. They are two worthless rock way out in the middle of no where with little scenic value. Save your money to go elsewhere.
Anyway Brian in Jeollanam-do has video of the billboard’s message for those who are interested.
1:37 pm on March 2nd, 2010 1
Why does it always have to be New York?
8:50 pm on March 2nd, 2010 2
I wish someone would go to Dokdo and claim it as their own micronation.
9:37 pm on March 2nd, 2010 3
I can already see the headlines: " (insert that person's country) Invades Dodko, Police Bravely Thwart Assault, One Dead".
12:07 am on March 3rd, 2010 4
I have always been under the impression that these overseas Dokdo publicity stunts are timed to ride the coattails of some other event where Korea got to defeat Japan on the World stage.
Would not be surprised if this billboard was intentionally timed to go up just after Kim beat Asada in Olympic figure skating.
5:58 am on March 3rd, 2010 5
I have toilet paper printed with the same slogan.
7:29 am on March 3rd, 2010 6
It doesn't take any courage to put up this video billboard in NYC, where no one knows about this issue or cares. Show some REAL courage, for once, and put it up in Tokyo.
11:38 am on March 3rd, 2010 7
It's a subliminal message for "school shooting suspects" to flee to Dokdo.
11:47 am on March 3rd, 2010 8
Somehow I don't think this ad campaign is going to be very successful.