An Yong-bok’s voyages to Japan
After clashing with Japanese fishermen on Ulleungdo, An Yong-bok travelled to Japan twice to assert that Ulleungdo and Dokdo belonged to Joseon.
Joseon Dynasty (18th century) · Public domain · Source
An Yong-bok, a fisherman from Dongnae, was seized by Japanese fishermen on Ulleungdo in 1693 and taken to Japan, where he insisted the island was Korean. The affair led to negotiations between Joseon and the Tokugawa shogunate, and in 1696 the shogunate forbade Japanese from sailing to Ulleungdo.
In 1696 An crossed to Hōki Province again, calling himself the tax inspector of the two islands of Ulleung and Usan (Dokdo), and protested that both belonged to Joseon. On his return he was exiled for crossing the border without leave. His activities are recorded in the Annals of King Sukjong.
