Controversy Over Google Maps Labeling Dokdo as 'Liancourt Rocks'

▲ The 'Liancourt Rocks' label displayed in 'Recently Visited Places' after a visit to Dokdo

Google Maps is facing controversy for labeling South Korea's Dokdo as 'Liancourt Rocks,' a term advocated by Japan.

'Liancourt Rocks' is named after a French whaling ship that discovered the islets, and it is a term primarily used by the Japanese government to deny South Korea's territorial sovereignty over Dokdo.

Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, pointed out on social media today (July 16), "When searching for Dokdo on Google Maps, it is correctly labeled as Dokdo," but added, "However, when checking 'recently visited places,' it is incorrectly labeled as Liancourt Rocks."

He added, "Tourists who visited Dokdo have been continuously reporting this," and "I confirmed the same result after visiting the island myself recently."

Professor Seo also revisited a case from last year when he asked his social media followers for the "status by country" to see how Google Maps labels Dokdo in other parts of the world.

He stated, "Followers from 42 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia, reported back," and "All of them were incorrectly labeling it as Liancourt Rocks."

He further noted, "It is only correctly labeled as Dokdo in South Korea," and "In Japan, it is labeled as 'Takeshima' (the name Japan claims for Dokdo), and that remains the case today."

Professor Seo emphasized, "We have been consistently protesting to Google, but it has not been corrected," adding, "The South Korean government must lodge a strong protest to ensure it is corrected."

(Photo: Screenshot from Professor Seo Kyoung-duk's social media, Yonhap News)

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