Ethnic Korean associations in the United States will soon urge the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) to recognize waters to Korea's east as the "East Sea" in addition to the already accepted title "Sea of Japan.”

The associations based in major U.S. cities will send out collected signatures calling for the name recognition to the IHO on Monday ahead of the international organization’s general assembly in April.

Korean associations in 16 locations throughout the U.S. have led the signature drive and earned the support of 24-thousand people.

The presidents of the associations will also jointly write, sign and send letters to one hundred senators in 50 U.S. states to persuade them of the validity of using a dual name for the body of water and ask for their support.

Currently, the IHO's sea maps only refer to the waters as the Sea of Japan.