Lee Kang-deok, a preliminary candidate for North Gyeongsang Province governor from the People Power Party, strongly condemned Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's repeated claims that Dokdo is Japanese territory.
"As a former Korea Coast Guard Commissioner who defended Dokdo, I strongly denounce the Japanese Prime Minister's remarks that infringe on our sovereignty," Lee said via social media on May 14.
Lee served as the 12th Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard. He recalled his leadership approach upon taking office: "I emphasized that our focus should be the sea, not the land, and ordered immediate deployment of patrol vessels and aircraft to respond firmly to provocations from China and Japan."
"I also commanded our forces to chase pirates to the ends of the earth if necessary to rescue kidnapped Korean citizens in Africa," he added. "Dokdo is the territory of the Republic of Korea, and the waters off Dokdo are Korean territorial waters."
Lee expressed his determination to protect the islands. "As Lee Kang-deok, former Korea Coast Guard Commissioner, I will become the Governor of North Gyeongsang Province and defend Dokdo-ri, Ulleung-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, and protect the waters off Dokdo to the end," he said.
