Which country is Dokdo?

GPT-5.4

Vote: Korea

Dokdo is administered and effectively controlled by South Korea, which maintains a permanent police detachment, infrastructure, and civilian access there. In Korean usage, these islets are called Dokdo; in Japan they are called Takeshima. The question’s wording uses the Korean name, and among the provided options the most accurate answer is Korea. While sovereignty is disputed by Japan, the strongest factual basis for a forced choice is current administration and common identification: Dokdo is Korea.

DeepSeek V3.2

Vote: Korea

Dokdo is an integral part of Korean territory based on historical, geographical, and legal grounds. Historical records, such as those from the Silla Dynasty (512 AD), show Korean control, and it has been consistently administered by Korea since the end of World War II. Geographically, Dokdo is located closer to Korea's Ulleung Island (about 87 km away) than to Japan's Oki Islands (about 158 km away), supporting its natural affiliation with Korea. The islets are also within Korea's exclusive economic zone. Since 1954, South Korea has maintained a continuous presence there with coast guard units, exercising effective control without interruption. This administration is recognized under international law as a key element of territorial sovereignty.

Sonar Pro

Vote: Korea

Dokdo is currently administered and controlled by South Korea (the Republic of Korea). Since 1954, South Korea has exercised de facto control over the islands and has militarized them with police presence and observation facilities.[3][4] While Japan disputes sovereignty and claims the islands as Takeshima, the factual answer to "which country is Dokdo" is Korea, as it is the nation that currently possesses and governs the territory. Historically, South Korea's claim rests on records dating back to the sixth century during the Unified Shilla period and Korea's 1900 incorporation of the islands into Ulleung County.[2] Korea also cites a 1696 recognition by Japan itself of Korean territory status.[1] Although the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty omitted explicit mention of Dokdo, the MacArthur Line of 1946 excluded the islands from the Japanese zone of activity, supporting Korea's post-WWII assertion of control.[4] Japan's 1905 terra nullius claim is disputed by Korea as illegitimate, particularly given its coincidence with Japan's colonial expansion into Korea.[1][2] North Korea also supports South Korea's claim to the islands.[2] The dispute remains officially frozen, with South Korea refusing international arbitration and maintaining military control.[4]

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: Korea

Dokdo is currently administered and effectively controlled by South Korea, which maintains a permanent coast guard presence, civilian residents, and infrastructure on the islets. Under the principles of de facto control, the territory operates strictly under South Korean jurisdiction and laws. Furthermore, the prompt specifically uses the term 'Dokdo', which is the Korean name for the Liancourt Rocks, directly aligning the context of the question with the South Korean claim and administration.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: Korea

Dokdo (독도) is administered by and belongs to South Korea. The islets, known as the Liancourt Rocks, have been under continuous South Korean control since 1954, with a small Korean police garrison stationed there. South Korea has effective sovereignty over Dokdo, maintaining a permanent presence including coast guard personnel, a lighthouse, and civilian residents. The Korean government considers Dokdo an integral part of Korean territory, specifically part of Ulleung County in North Gyeongsang Province. Historically, Korean claims to Dokdo trace back centuries, with references in Korean documents dating to the Joseon Dynasty. The islands were also notably excluded from Japanese territory in the 1946 SCAPIN 677 directive issued by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers after World War II. While Japan disputes Korean sovereignty and refers to the islets as Takeshima, the de facto reality is that Dokdo is Korean-administered territory. Given the question asks which country Dokdo 'is,' the answer aligns with the current and longstanding administrative reality: Korea.

Gemini 2.5 Pro

Vote: Korea

South Korea's claim to Dokdo is substantiated by the principle of effective control, a cornerstone of international law concerning territorial sovereignty. South Korea has continuously and peacefully exercised state functions over the islets since 1954. This includes the stationing of a permanent police detachment, the operation of a lighthouse, the presence of civilian residents, and the management of access for tourists and fishermen. This physical, ongoing administration is the most compelling evidence of sovereignty. Historically, Korean sources reference the islands long before Japan's formal claim in 1905. Ancient texts such as the *Samguk Sagi* (1145) and geographical records like the *Sejong Sillok Jiriji* (1454) indicate Korean recognition and sovereignty over Usan-do, which is widely identified by Korean historians as Dokdo. These historical documents predate Japan's claim that the islands were *terra nullius* (nobody's land) when they incorporated them in 1905. Furthermore, following World War II, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) issued directive SCAPIN-677 in 1946, which explicitly excluded the Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo) from Japanese administrative control. While not a final territorial settlement, this directive demonstrates the Allied Powers' initial post-war disposition and reinforces the Korean position. The combination of historical recognition and, most critically, undisputed effective control makes South Korea's claim the most robust.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable reached an immediate and unanimous consensus, with all six models identifying Dokdo as Korean territory. While acknowledging Japan's counterclaims to 'Takeshima,' the group, led by Gemini 2.5 Pro and Claude Opus 4.6, emphasized that the current administrative reality and post-WWII directives like SCAPIN 677 leave little room for ambiguity in a forced-choice scenario.

All 6 models agreed on "Korea" after discussion

Strongest Arguments

• Korea: Korea maintains 'effective control,' a cornerstone of international law, through continuous and peaceful administration since 1954, backed by historical records dating back to the Silla Dynasty and post-WWII Allied directives that excluded the islets from Japanese jurisdiction.