The team led by singer Kim Jang-Hoon plans to complete the swim on Liberation Day Wednesday, which marks the ending in 1945 of Japan`s 35-year colonial rule over Korea.
The territorial row over the Seoul-controlled islands, known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japan, has simmered for decades.
It erupted again Friday when South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak visited the volcanic outcrops in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
An angry Japan recalled its ambassador from Seoul and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said the trip -- the first by a South Korean president -- was "extremely deplorable".
Kim jumped in the sea off Uljin in a full-body swimsuit after a ceremony with about 40 university students and dozens of others, Yonhap news agency reported.
The students, all members of a swimming club at the Korea National Sport University, will take part in the 55-hour-long relay led by Kim, it said.
The singer was set to celebrate his 45th birthday on the sea Tuesday.
"I will never make such a comment as `Dokdo is our territory` when I arrive there," Kim told reporters before leaving. "It`s meaningless to do so because they are undeniably our territory."
(H-AK)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
