Acting Authority System for 3 Months... Helpless Against US 'Sensitive Country' Designation

Choi Sangmok Discusses Response Measures to U.S. Sensitive Country Designation
Delayed Confirmation, Unclear Causes... Diplomatic Limitations Exposed
Acting Presidential System Put to the Test... Attention on Trump’s Response

Although the U.S. government classified South Korea as a 'sensitive country,' South Korea is facing the reality of operating under an acting presidential authority system. The fact that it took two months to confirm this after being placed on the sensitive country list itself reflects the current situation. The bigger problem is that the exact causes and background have not been properly identified. Concerns about 'diplomatic and security shortcomings' related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident and the impeachment motions against the president and prime minister have become a reality.

Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Minister of Economy and Finance, is holding a meeting on external economic issues at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 17th. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the government on the 17th, Choi Sang-mok, the acting president and deputy prime minister as well as the Minister of Strategy and Finance, instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of Science and ICT?counterparts to the U.S. State Department and Department of Energy?to respond after confirming that the U.S. government had placed South Korea on the sensitive country classification list. A government official explained, "While assessing the situation through channels with the U.S., we are also persuading that South Korea should not be included as a sensitive country and are making efforts to have it removed from the list." It is known that Choi discussed the situation related to the sensitive country designation with Jung In-kyo, the head of the Trade Negotiations Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who recently returned from a U.S. trip, on the morning of the same day.

Despite the U.S. classifying South Korea as a sensitive country in January, it took two months to ascertain the circumstances, leading to criticism that diplomatic and security capabilities have excessively declined. It is also unclear when Choi became aware of this fact. Choi instructed An Deok-geun, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, to visit the U.S. this week to meet with Chris Wright, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, and actively discuss this matter. The plan is to mobilize all diplomatic efforts to rectify the situation before the enforcement date on the 15th of next month.

The sensitive country designation was made under the Joe Biden administration, but the formal enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of the Donald Trump administration. Under normal circumstances, differences could be coordinated at the presidential level, but since Choi has not been able to speak with President Trump even two months after assuming office, it is considered practically impossible. The government explained that even if designated as a sensitive country, it would not significantly affect the South Korea-U.S. alliance, but this has been criticized as a "complacent perception."

Professor Min Jeong-hoon of the Americas Research Department at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy explained, "Since the Biden administration's term has ended, the U.S. is unlikely to properly clarify the reasons for the sensitive country designation." He added, "Discomfort over South Korea's own nuclear armament mentions in the political sphere, disappointment over the martial law incident, and regional instability seem to have influenced this." Professor Min said, "Since the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy mainly focuses on U.S. energy policy, it seems difficult to manage this issue as well," and added, "It is expected to be lifted soon, but how quickly the Trump administration will address it is also crucial."