Professor Seok Kyung-deok urges correction of ‘Sea of Japan’ labels on airline maps

Professor Seok Kyung-deok of Sungshin Women's University has identified that 14 foreign airlines are exclusively using the term ‘Sea of Japan’ on their in-flight seatback maps instead of the ‘East Sea’.

Through reports from netizens, the airlines identified include Air Canada, Air China, Singapore Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Thai Airways, and Garuda Indonesia, among others. Professor Seok noted that because in-flight maps are viewed by approximately 5 billion passengers annually according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, incorrect labeling can lead to the international standardization of the disputed name.

Seok explained that the current naming issue stems from the 1929 publication by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), a period during which Korea lacked sovereignty due to Japanese colonial rule. He plans to send formal protest letters to the affected airlines to demand the inclusion of ‘East Sea’ or a correction of the maps to protect maritime sovereignty.