[Provided by the North Gyeongsang Province Cultural Foundation Content Promotion Agency]
[Provided by the North Gyeongsang Province Cultural Foundation Content Promotion Agency]

North Gyeongsang Province and the North Gyeongsang Province Cultural Foundation's Content Promotion Agency said Friday they will release the sixth promotional video tied to the animation "Gangchi Island" — titled "People Who Have Protected Dokdo" — through the Dokdo Gangchi TV YouTube channel.

The video was conceived by Professor Seo Kyung-deok, a promotional ambassador for Dokdo content, and features narration by singer Kim Jang-hoon, widely known as one of the most prominent advocates for Dokdo.

Through the stories of people who devoted themselves to protecting Dokdo from the Joseon era to the present day, the video conveys the islets' historical significance and value.

It opens with the story of An Yong-bok, a Joseon-era figure who asserted Korean sovereignty over Ulleungdo and Dokdo.

The video then introduces the activities of the Dokdo Volunteer Defense Corps in the 1950s and the lives of Dokdo residents, before turning to those who guard the islets today — including staff at the Dokdo Management Office, emergency rescue and medical personnel, lighthouse keepers, the Dokdo Coast Guard unit and the Korea Coast Guard.

The video also highlights the Netflix animation "Gangchi Island," released this year, as an "online guardian of Dokdo," underscoring the role of content in spreading the story and appeal of Dokdo to audiences around the world.

"We can confidently say Dokdo is our territory because of the long efforts of those who have worked to protect it," Professor Seo said. "I hope this video helps people remember their stories and carry that meaning forward to the next generation."

"It is meaningful to be able to give voice to the stories of those who have stood by Dokdo," Kim said. "I hope that through 'Gangchi Island' and other content, Dokdo's story reaches an even wider audience at home and abroad."

"Gangchi Island" is an animation about sea lions from a magic school who grow into guardian wizards protecting Dokdo and the sea.

The agency is currently producing Season 3, targeting a release in the first half of next year. The new season will expand the show's world with new characters, settings and magical items, while deepening its focus on ecological themes and friendship.

"The footsteps of those who have protected Dokdo are the living history of our territory," said Lee Jong-su, head of the agency. "Spreading the value of Dokdo through content is itself one way of protecting it."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com