After it was confirmed that a "Dokdo sunrise" photo the Korean National Police Agency posted on social media (SNS) to mark the 2026 New Year was actually a sunset photo, sparking controversy, the agency deleted the photo and apologized.
The Korean National Police Agency said on the 2nd via SNS, "We sought to cheer on the public's strong start to the New Year with a photo of the sun blazing red over Dokdo," adding, "We apologize for posting a photo that could cause confusion in the process." The agency added, "We will be more careful in producing SNS content."
Earlier, the Korean National Police Agency posted six photos with the caption, "Here is a gift of the first sunrise of 2026. We will stand firmly by your side this year as well," featuring Dokdo as the backdrop.
However, some of the photos were flagged as likely being sunset, not actual sunrise shots. Analyses also noted that the weather conditions at Dokdo on New Year's Day did not match, making it hard to see the photos as sunrise images.
Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, said on his SNS, "Based on tips we verified, the first photo in the post appears to be a sunset, not a sunrise," adding, "In the second photo as well, despite heavy snowfall on Dokdo on New Year's Day, there is no snow accumulation."
Professor Seo said, "Japan continues to push the baseless claim that Dokdo is its territory," adding, "Government agencies must be more careful when handling matters related to Dokdo."