SpaceX’s Starlink faces backlash for map designating Dokdo as ‘Liancourt Rocks’

Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, drew criticism after its availability map labeled Dokdo as the Liancourt Rocks, a designation critics said mischaracterizes the islets, which are under Korea’s longstanding administrative control. The controversy erupted just days after the service entered the local market. The name Liancourt Rocks is taken from a French whaling ship that passed the islets in 1849. As of Sunday, a search for “Dokdo” on Starlink’s availability map also returns the name “Liancourt Rocks.” Selecting either term does not produce a blue marker for the islets, used to identify places where the service is available. The dispute surfaced shortly after Starlink entered the Korean market. The company rolled out two home internet plans last week, listing them at 64,000 won ($43) and 87,000 won a month. Experts say using the French-derived name is inaccurate and ignores the established name. “Dokdo is Dokdo — it is a proper noun,” said Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at the School of Creative Convergence Studies at Sungshin Women’s UniversityWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times