The story of three criminal, civil, and international trials fought by Joseon fisherman An Yong-bok, who traveled back and forth across the East Sea twice, over the ownership of Dokdo and Ulleungdo.
It focuses on the life of An Yong-bok, who served as the defendant, plaintiff, and attorney (lawyer) in each trial, and contains the fierce diplomatic war between the Joseon and Japanese governments over the sovereignty of Dokdo and Ulleungdo.
This is a refreshing legal historical drama that resolves the Dokdo issue, the core of the Korea-Japan conflict, 300 years ahead of schedule, and a human drama depicting the life of An Yong-bok, who is remembered only as a legendary figure.

For a person who is the same inside and out, what matters is not reward or punishment, but intention.
An Yong-bok achieved his goal.
--- p.124

“I am from Dongrae-bu, Gyeongsang-do, Joseon, and my name is An Yong-bok.”
--- p.25

“Ulleungdo is an island with a lot of bamboo.
It is an island belonging to Gangwon-do, Joseon, and is called Jukdo in Japan.
“I have a map of the eight provinces with this information written on it.” An Yong-bok showed off the eight maps of the eight provinces of Joseon that he had in his possession.
This is a map with the names of each region written in Korean.
“The island that Japan calls Songdo refers to an island called Jasan (Dokdo) that belongs to the same Gangwon Province.
This is also recorded on the map of the eight provinces.”
--- p.86

An Yong-bok was a figure from the late Joseon Dynasty and was from Dongrae-bu (Busan).
The dates of birth and death are unknown.
However, according to Japanese records, he was born in the 1650s or 1660s, and is estimated to have been in his mid-30s to early 40s at the time of the incident.
His occupation was a soldier rowing on a warship and a fisherman.
Japanese sources record that he had a sanobi's hopae (identification card), but considering that he was able to communicate in Japanese and his actions before and after the incident, it is difficult to believe this at face value.

--- p.8

Oya's party sent a few men ahead to scout the island without dropping anchor.
There were quite a few abalones and seaweed drying along the coast.
There were also discarded straw sandals, but their appearance was different from Japanese ones.
It was clear that a Korean had crossed over.

--- p.23

So, Oya and his group plan to kidnap them.
“Last year, I warned the North Korean fishermen not to come here again.
But this spring, they came in before us and are interfering with our fishing.
If we leave it as is, our land will be plundered by Koreans.
So, it would be best to take the two of them and report the whole story, and then follow the shogunate’s decision.”
--- p.26

After investigating An Yong-bok and his party and learning the full story of the incident, Japan seeks a diplomatic solution with the Joseon government.
Tsushima Domain, which was the exclusive channel of communication between Joseon and Japan, reacted sensitively to this issue and dispatched an envoy to deliver a letter to the Joseon court.
This opens another courtroom outside the Ahn Yong-bok trial courtroom.

--- p.39

“I, So Yoshitsugu, the Governor of Tsushima, Japan, submit a letter to the Minister of Rites, Hap-ha, of Joseon.
(…) Last year, fishermen from your home country came to Jukdo Island and engaged in fishing activities.
As this was something that should not have happened, the local officials of the home country explained the laws of the country in detail and sent him back after giving him a firm warning not to come back.
(…) In the future, please strictly prohibit North Korean fishing boats from entering Jukdo.
This is to inform you of the Edo shogunate's order."
--- pp.40-41

The governor of Tsushima did not stop at pointing out An Yong-bok's personal violation of the national border, but directly mentioned the issue of sovereignty over Ulleungdo (Takeshima).
Whatever the intention, this strategy expanded the issues in the Ahn Yong-bok trial and served as a catalyst for the trial to unfold in an unexpected way.
--- pp.41-42

The Japanese called Joseon's Ulleungdo Island Jukdo and considered it their land.
With one island having two names and two countries each acting as its owner, conflict is bound to arise.
Therefore, the letter from the governor of Tsushima contained the hidden intention and will to use the An Yong-bok incident as an opportunity to firmly bring jurisdiction over Takeshima back to Japan.
On the other hand, at that time, the Joseon government did not want conflict with Japan.

--- p.49

The kidnapping of An Yong-bok and his party in 1693 escalated into a dispute over Ulleungdo Island between Joseon and Japan.
Initially, the Japanese believed that Koreans had invaded their territorial waters and kidnapped the two men.
The Joseon government, which belatedly realized this fact, tried to cover it up as quietly as possible without making a big deal out of it as An Yong-bok and his party set off on their way back to the country.
To this end, the Joseon government proposed a two-island, two-person policy to the Tsushima clan, stating that "Ulleungdo = Joseon territory, Jukdo = Japanese territory," and attempted to cover up the incident without the intervention of the Japanese shogunate.
On the other hand, Tsushima clan claimed that 'Ulleungdo = Takeshima = Japanese territory' (1 island, 2 people) and wanted to make Ulleungdo a complete Japanese territory.
The intention was to increase both influence over Joseon and the shogunate's trust through these negotiations.
--- p.67

“We didn’t acquire this island in the first place, so it’s absurd to say we’re returning it now.
Therefore, we simply prohibit our people from crossing here to fish.
The shogunate's latest directive contradicts previous directives.
However, it is better to resolve the issue without conflict than to insist on one's own opinion and argue deeply.
Therefore, Japanese people are prohibited from approaching bamboo swords.”
--- p.73

“A few years ago, I came here and designated Ulleungdo and Jasando as Joseon territory, and even received a letter from your country’s official.
But now that you have invaded our territory, what is the right thing to do?”
--- p.109

“I don’t know the details of the Korean’s petition, but since they came to Inaba Province as their destination, it must have something to do with Jukdo.
The shogunate has also been lenient in its judgment and has ordered a ban on crossing the Tokugawa shogunate to the advantage of Joseon. If this petition is accepted without first informing Joseon of this, they will consider it the result of the lawsuit.
So, if you have any petitions in the future, you will have to go to the shogunate, so you will be very embarrassed.”
--- p.103

It was the Byeonbisa's Po Seung-jool who greeted An Yong-bok, who was exiled to Joseon.
The charge was that he crossed the border without permission and caused a disturbance in a neighboring country.
Ironically, this trial record is the very source that vividly explains why An Yong-bok risked his life to cross over to Japan again and what the outcome of his second visit to Japan was.
--- p.106

Governor Shin Yeo-cheol came forward and defended Ahn Yong-bok.
“An Yong-bok’s deeds are truly remarkable, but since he was able to accomplish what the state could not, his merits and faults are mutually exclusive.
“It cannot be determined by one sin.”
Then, Yoon Ji-seon refutes.
“If we do not kill An Yong-bok, the number of treacherous people who cause trouble in other countries will increase.
How can we keep him alive?”

--- p.117