Underground Resources

Dokdo is an invaluable fishing ground that has infinite values
as the fishery base of the East Sea.

There is a layer of natural gas around Dokdo.
Professor W.H. Baek of Gyeongsang National University Department Chemistry, who was studying at Russia Science Center of Inorganic Chemistry Lab, received a gift from Researcher Kuznetsov in December 1997.
It was a map that was clearly marking a point in the East Sea as the possible source of Gas Hydrate.

'Gas Hydrate' is the solid state of natural gas whose major substance is methane. It is a critical source of energy that is tens of times greater than the existing sources of natural gas and an instructive resource that tells us where petroleum resource might be buried.

When Professor Baek revisited Russia in May 1998, he asked Researcher Kuznetsov for more detailed information about Gas Hydrate of the East Sea. Then, Researcher Kuznetsov gave him a meaningful response: 『I cannot disclose that information because of our policies. I hear that Japan is constantly claiming its ownership of Dokdo, am I right?』. Shin-Donga tells a very shocking story about this issue:

"The major reason why Japan has recklessly claimed that Dokdo is their territory because of the East Sea abundant maritime resources."

Although there is an enormous amount of Gas Hydrate undiscovered, only Russia is developing it for commercial purposes because Korea does not have advanced technologies yet. Japan has accumulated much information on Hydrate and began exploring the Nankai Trough in November 1999.

Protect Dokdo's economic values...
It is necessary for the Korea Goverment to understand why Japan is constantly claiming Dokdo to protect Dokdo and its economic values.

In 1997, Korea was the 6th largest consumer and 4th largest importer of crude oil in the world. However, Korea purchases 97.8% of energy resources from abroad (Shin-Donga, September 1998, The 1997 Report of the Energy and Economy Research Center). Thus, Korean Government has explored seven underwater mining spots in the 300,000㎢ continental shelf since 1970. Although they did not have enough economic values, layers of gas were discovered in central waters of the East Sea in 1989 and 1993.

On July 27, 1998, an incomparably great layer of natural gas was found in the continental shelf about 50km to the southeast of Ulsan.

It is highly possible that Dokdo's nearby waters have maritime petroleum resources that are enormously valuable.

It is necessary for the Korean Government to recognize the economic value of Dokdo's surrounding seas and understand why Japan is constantly claiming Dokdo to protect Dokdo and its economic values. However, underwater resources are not the only value of Dokdo. Dokdo is the fishery base of the East Sea.

As we have recognized the possible presence of petroleum in the surrounding seas of Dokdo, we must be careful to make multiperspective approaches to developing Dokdo.
Ulleungdo Island and Dokdo have heavenly tourism resources. Considering that they are located in the center of the East Sea, they have the potentials to be developed as the tourism hub of the East Sea Rim.
As of today, 17 species of fowls have been recorded in Dokdo. However, about 22 species have been observed. The largest flocks are streaked shearwater, storm-petrel (Hydrobatidae), and black-tailed gull.

These birds are only found in Northeast Asia. To protect their valuable habitats, Korea designated 34 lots around San-42 Dodong-ri Ulleung-eup Ulleung-gun (178,781㎡) as Natural Monument No. 336 (Bird Habitat) on November 16, 1982.
When this region is developed for tourists, it is important to both preserve and develop the environment.