Historical Gazettes Used to Challenge Sea Name
Researcher Lee Sang-tae presented Japanese government documents that identified the body of water as the Joseon Sea.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Fishing
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Should historical naming documents change how countries officially name shared international waters today?
At an international seminar, Lee Sang-tae presented evidence from 1902 Japanese government gazettes that refer to the East Sea as the Joseon Sea. This historical record challenges the contemporary international naming of the area as the Sea of Japan.
Why it matters
The findings contest established geopolitical naming conventions for the region by highlighting historical terminology used by Japan. This provides a new archival perspective on the historical status of the waters known today as the East Sea.
The Foreign Territorial Sea Fisheries Cooperative Act was enacted in 1902 to regulate cooperatives in foreign waters. These entities, such as the Joseon Sea Fisheries Cooperative, operated in the region from 1902 to 1911.
The players
Lee Sang-tae
He is a researcher who presented archival evidence regarding historical place names in international seminars.
The details
The documents were brought to light by researcher Lee Sang-tae, who identified the name Joseon Sea within Japanese government records issued in late 1902. These gazettes detailed the creation and approval of fisheries cooperatives established by Japan to manage maritime activity.
Timeline
Japan organized the Joseon Fisheries Association in Busan in 1897.
Japan formed the Joseon Sea Fishing Cooperative Union in 1900.
Japanese government gazette issue 5749 was published on September 1, 1902.
Japanese government gazette issue 5839 was published on December 18, 1902.
The Joseon Sea Fisheries Cooperative operated between 1902 and 1911.
Culture Shift
This research reflects a broader effort to utilize historical archives to influence contemporary geopolitical identity. It challenges established international nomenclature by drawing on the same administrative record-keeping practices that historically categorized these maritime regions.
These findings inform readers of the deep historical complexity behind international nautical maps and naming standards. Understanding these archival records provides deeper context for the current regional naming debates affecting maritime policies.
The takeaway
Historical archives can serve as powerful tools for re-evaluating long-standing international disputes. Readers interested in maritime history can look into government gazettes as primary sources for understanding how regions were officially classified over a century ago.
Further reading
For more on the historical and environmental context of these waters, see our Fishing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 조선일보.
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Should historical naming documents change how countries officially name shared international waters today?
