Thesis statement (new)

The environment should be prioritized over Economic development.

Conclusion

 Certainly, the claim to ownership of Block 7 should be continued and seen as essential. It could lead to a reduction in dependence on oil prices and stabilization of prices, which could exponentially develop the country's economy. By continuing to assert ownership of Block 7, South Korea can close the economic gap with China and Japan. It can also set the stage for South Korea to become a stronger developed nation. South Korea cannot afford to lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. By asserting our ownership of the zone, we can enjoy a night without worrying about tomorrow.

refutation

 Criticisms of the ownership of Block 7 have always existed. Opponents argue that the process of obtaining ownership of Block 7 is complicated and that claiming Block 7 has the potential to negatively change diplomatic relations with Japan and China. However, this is an unfair argument given South Korea's lack of resources. As an economy as a whole, South Korea is highly dependent on oil, ranking first in oil consumption (5.7 barrels of oil per $10,000 of GDP) and fourth in per capita oil consumption (18.0 barrels of oil per capita) among OECD member countries (37 countries) as of 2020. Even if we were to win only a small portion of Block 7 through diplomatic maneuvering, it would be a huge gain. China is also in an adversarial relationship with us. China has an enormous advantage by holding onto Block 7. China has already unilaterally installed 16 oil and gas fields in the western part of Block 7, and is continuing to develop more in 2018. It has even been confirmed that the 12th of these installations is equipped with surface-to-air radars for maritime patrol vessels, surveillance cameras, and even a helicopter landing pad, suggesting that it could be used for military purposes. It would be highly unreasonable to give them such vast resources untouched. 

It will not be easy for South Korea to resolve these issues, but it is very appropriate for South Korea to assert its ownership of the seven blocks given the resources they contain. In March 2020, it was confirmed that the South Korean government was reactivating the development of Block 7 after 34 years of neglect due to a joint development treaty with Japan.  Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy decided to reopen the 7 blocks on the continental shelf, and on January 2, it was confirmed that Korea National Oil Corporation was appointed as the developer. Also, even if the agreement is finished, it does not immediately become Japanese territorial waters. There is no reason for South Korea to agree to this, and in fact, it is in principle not to go to court, as it requires the consent of both countries. From Japan's point of view, it is a blank slate of an agreement that was signed when South Korea was in an advantageous position, and Japan wants to create a favorable situation, but Japan cannot immediately go to court and make it its territorial waters just because the agreement is over. 

confirmation

South Korea should claim ownership of Block 7 because it is rich in resources. According to the Block 7 reserve report, if the estimated reserves are correct, the economic value of the underground resources in Block 7 at $60 per barrel for oil and $1000 per ton for gas is over 2.5 trillion won. This is equivalent to South Korea's budget for 420,012 years. It's not a strict estimate, as prices will drop when resources of this magnitude are released to the market, but it gives a good idea of the economic value of the area. 

 South Korea should claim ownership of Block 7. becasue it's related to Dokdo. As the saying goes, if you really want something, sometimes it's best to knock on the other side of the door so that the other side doesn't look your way. For Japan, the best case scenario is to keep the islands under the radar and manage them as quietly as possible until the end of the treaty, so they may have used the tactics of the Seongdong dynasty to claim the islands. Dokdo has many disadvantages that make it difficult for Japan to incorporate it into its territory. If it is difficult for Japan to effectively control it anyway, it may have decided that it is a much better business to use Dokdo as a bait to take over Dokdo. In South Korea, the issue is largely forgotten, and when the people forget, the political establishment tends to forget.

South Korea should claim ownership of Block 7. Because there are many ways for our country to win against Japan. The first way is to go to an international tribunal and claim that Japan violated the principle of good faith. Parties to a treaty are obligated to each other to fulfill the treaty in good faith. We signed a treaty to jointly develop the JDZ, but after 50 years, only seven boreholes were drilled and there was no exploration or development for 30 years. From South Korea's point of view, there is every reason to believe that Japan has violated the principle of good faith. The second is to use the U.S. It is clear that the U.S. would not want to be spoon-fed by China unless the seven blocks are shared by Korea and Japan. If you dig into this point, it is possible to persuade Japan by using the voice of the United States. 

Narration

 JDZ, Joint development zone is the area of seabed and subsoil, together with the superjacent waters, was established as a joint development zone under Article 2 of the Treaty. And according to Oxford Dictionary, continental shelf means the area of seabed around a large landmass where the sea is relatively shallow compared with the open ocean. 

 The South Korean government claimed sovereignty over the area based on a 1969 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the principle of "natural extension of the territorial sea or land sovereignty of a coastal state" the two countries agreed to joint exploration in 1978 on a 50:50 basis. South Korea was proud to do business with Japan; at the time, South Korea did not have the technology or funds to explore and extract gas from the seabed, but the dream was dashed. Japan decided not to participate in the joint development because it saw little economic value in it. What was the real reason for Japan's decision?. It was the approaching expiration of the joint project. The agreement ends on June 22, 2028 (either side can terminate the agreement after June 2025). The problem, however, is that the 1994 amendment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea put about 90% of the joint development area under Japanese jurisdiction. In just two years, the potential offshore resources of the Dokdo could belong to Japan. 

 If South Korea were to acquire a large share of the oil and natural gas reserves in the seven fields, it would greatly reduce the country's dependence on the oil trade. It would also lower the prices of electricity, which are currently hitting the poor hard. Also, overall price is a decrease

Introduction

Beneath  the Korean Peninsula, There is an 82,000Km2 seabed that buried 

Can you imagine South Korea being an oil-producing country? like Saudi Arabia? If so, the government expenses are slashed drastically in the import field. To tell the truth, South Korea has the opportunity to become an oil-producing country. The JDZ agreement established a maritime boundary between South Korea and Japan in the Sea of Japan (also known as the East Sea), which is an area rich in fish and other resources. Under the agreement, the two countries agreed to jointly develop resources in a designated area of the Sea of Japan, which is divided into three zones. However, according to the changed maritime law, Japan is not responding until the contract is terminated when it sees its benefit. Therefore South Korea should continue the agreement of the Japna-Korea Joint Development Zone.

Research

 Thesis : South Korea shouldn't give up ownership of the South Korea-Japan Joint Development Zone(Block VII mining area)

http://www.keei.re.kr/main.nsf/index_en.html?open&p=%2Fweb_keei%2Fen_news.nsf%2Fxmlmain%2FC83EEC39289DCD95C9256C230004EF08&s=%3FOpenDocument%26menucode%3DES90

https://thediplomat.com/2023/02/keep-an-eye-on-the-japan-korea-joint-development-zone/

https://www.newsdirectory3.com/sector-7-make-it-louder-interview-by-kbs-reporter-hong-sa-hoon/

https://www.jiia-jic.jp/en/japanreview/pdf/JapanReview_Vol3_No2_04_Sakai.pdf