The Dokdo Volunteer Forces refer to an establishment of thirty-three civilian fighters,  all inhabitants of Ulleungdo, who landed on Dokdo on April 20, 1953 to defend it 

against Japanese illegal intrusion. They devoted themselves to the defense of this remote part of Korean territory until December 30, 1956 when they handed over their 

duty together with facilities and equipment to the newly launched national police coast guard. 

(Article 2, Dokdo Volunteer Forces Act / Article 3, Act on the Sustainable Use of  Dokdo)

After the Korean War fought for freedom, Hong Sun-Chil got injured while fighting courageously and returned to  Ulleungdo Island. Hong and other war veterans risked 

their lives once again to organize a righteous army. The Dokdo Volunteer Forces was formed as a purely private team to protect “Dokdo Island,” a habitat for the 

residents of Ulleungdo and an indigenous territory of Korea, against illegal Japanese invasion and allow Korea to exercise full ‘territorial sovereignty’ on Dokdo Island.