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๐ What Is Ieodo?
Ieodo (also known as Socotra Rock) is a submerged reef located in the Yellow Sea, about 82 nautical miles southwest of Marado, South Korea’s southernmost island. Though it lies underwater, the reef has sparked geopolitical debates over maritime jurisdiction, as it sits near the hypothetical median line between Korea and China.
Despite being called an "island" in local legend and Korean folklore, Ieodo does not qualify as an island under Article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) because it is submerged at high tide. Hence, it cannot generate its own territorial sea, EEZ, or continental shelf.
⚖️ Legal Status Under International Law
According to UNCLOS Article 121, only naturally formed land features above water at high tide can claim maritime zones such as:
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Territorial Sea
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Contiguous Zone
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Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
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Continental Shelf
Ieodo, being a submerged rock, does not meet this criterion. Even China agrees with this classification. However, Korea maintains jurisdiction over the area based on its proximity to Marado (81 nmi) compared to China’s 147 nmi.
๐ Maritime Boundary Disputes: Median Line vs. Natural Extension
The core of the Ieodo dispute lies in how maritime boundaries should be drawn. South Korea supports the equidistance (median line) principle, while China insists on the natural prolongation of the continental shelf.
| Country | Legal Basis | Distance to Ieodo | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korea | Median Line (UNCLOS) | 81 nmi | Within Korea's EEZ |
| China | Natural Extension Theory | 147 nmi | Overlapping EEZ (no claim of sovereignty) |
This difference has impeded EEZ delimitation negotiations, though both countries agree that Ieodo is not sovereign territory, only a matter of jurisdiction.
๐งช Ieodo Ocean Research Station: A Symbol of Korean Presence
South Korea established the Ieodo Ocean Research Station in 2003 to monitor marine activity and conduct scientific research. While the base doesn't alter the legal status of the reef, it solidifies South Korea's operational control.
China, meanwhile, has expressed concerns and increased patrol activity in the region, viewing unilateral actions as potential provocations during ongoing negotiations.
๐ข China's Strategic Posture & Historical Actions
China’s past actions in the Yellow Sea suggest a pattern of strategic assertiveness. From 1971 to 2001, China used:
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Patrol ships to interrupt Korean exploration
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Diplomatic protests and armed surveillance
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Surveillance flights over the ocean base (2005)
Yet, these actions have stopped short of military conflict, signaling China’s preference for diplomatic pressure over direct confrontation—for now.
⚠️ Why Ieodo Still Matters in 2025
The strategic value of Ieodo is rising due to:
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Potential seabed energy resources (oil, gas)
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Growing Chinese naval presence
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Wider East China Sea tensions (e.g., Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands)
Should extraction become imminent, China could invoke the "straw effect," arguing that Korea’s activity damages its rights due to underwater resource connectivity.
๐ค The Path Forward: Peaceful Negotiation
South Korea emphasizes peaceful resolution and adherence to international law, as seen in the Korea-Japan Joint Continental Shelf Development Agreement (1974). It maintains that:
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Ieodo is not territorial, but a jurisdictional issue
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EEZ delimitation must be settled via negotiation based on UNCLOS
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Its marine science activities are a legitimate right
๐งญ Conclusion
The Ieodo issue encapsulates broader regional tensions in Northeast Asia—over resources, sovereignty, and strategy. While legally not an island, its location ensures that it will remain a symbol of maritime sovereignty and a test of diplomatic will between South Korea and China.
