[News] Rie Akiba angers Korean netizens with Dokdo comments

[Source : www.allkpop.com]

Japanese talent and Chitchat of Beauties panelist, Rie Akiba has become the target of a hate/anti campaign by Korean netizens after her comments about the sensitive Dokdo island issue between Korea and Japan.

In an interview with Dong-A weekly newspaper magazine, Rie Akiba was asked about her thoughts about Korean politics, society, culture and values.

Regarding Dokdo, she expressed,
“I only knew about it when I arrived (in Korea). The end of World War 2 on August 15, 1945 was an important event for Koreans. For the Japanese, it was a sad thing since we lost the war but we don’t harbor any hatred against America.

When Koreans who feel that Dokdo should be regarded as Korean territory, ask me about my opinion, I would answer, ‘Why do you think of it that way?’. There’s no hidden meaning in my words because I just want to know if their opinion was shaped by what they have heard from people around them.”

She continued,
“I did some research. And I found out that it was Korea who discovered it (Dokdo) first. But it’s difficult to determine which country does Dokdo belong to. The first country to discover it was Korea while Japan was the first to give it a name.”

Fellow Japanese talent, Tokiwa Fusako who was also interviewed, said,
“Whenever the Dokdo issue gets escalated in the media, I would get scolded when I walk on the streets.”

Netizens were split on this although most expressed fury with regards to Rie Akiba comments. They posted on her Cyworld minihompy,
“So you are implying that even if it’s Korean territory, as long as Japanese give it a name, that territory will automatically become part of Japan?”
“I think her Dokdo comments were a bit over the top.”
“Is she trying to make a name for herself?”
“Do you know how much hurt this will cause for some people?”

Some netizens have even motioned for MBC to remove Rie Akiba from her lead actress role for Hyunhaetan Marriage War special drama which will air from March 1 – 2. But MBC has responded by saying that everything will proceed as planned since filming was almost completed.

For those that don’t know much about Dokdo, basically Dokdo is a small group of islands in between South Korea and Japan. Both South Korea and Japan have claimed sovereignty over Dokdo and it’s a very sensitive issue in Korea and Japan. There’s much heated contention and debate between the two nations over Dokdo.

This Japanese talent explained in a recent interview:
“During the interview, back then the concept was to hear what younger Japanese generations thought. At first they asked about marriage and relationships and then all of a sudden the question of Dokdo came up. I just answered according to what I had heard in Japan. Since I’m not an expert on the issue, I also revealed that I didn’t know. This wasn’t my intentions but after the interview I was very flustered. In reality, there aren’t that many young Japanese people who have an interest in Dokdo.”

After Rie’s Dokdo initial comments, a small group of netizens started a protest movement to cancel and stop Hyunhaetan Marriage War, the new MBC drama in which Rie is starring as a lead actress. The actress has also posted her apologies on her Cyworld, but some netizens became suspicious that her management company stated those apologies and not Rie herself. However, Rie responded by insisting that she really was the one wrote those apologies.

Fact about Dokdo
[From : www.prkorea.com]

Dokdo is in the eastern reaches of Korea territory. Though it is small, Dokdo is the most meaningful island for Koreans.

Dokdo's official address is Ulleung-eup, Ulleung County, Kyeong-sang-buk-do, South Korea. Located in the 131 degrees of east longitude and 37 degrees of north latitude, Dokdo consists of two main islands and 89 reefs, each named after their shapes and sizes. Two islands are the east island, rising 98 meters above the sea level and the west island, rising 169 meters above the sea level.

Dokdo is located southeast of Ulleungdo Island, 87.4km apart. It is such a close distance that people in Ulleungdo Island are able to see the whole Dokdo Island with the naked eye. On the other hand, the closest Japanese island from Dokdo is Oki Island of Shimane Prefecture. It is 157.5km away from Dokdo.