Choi Acting President: "Designated as a Sensitive Country by the US... Need to Discuss Solutions in Meeting"

"Need to Raise Awareness of Technology and Security
at Public and Private Research Institutions"

Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, ordered on the 19th that "when the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy meets with the U.S. Secretary of Energy, they should actively explain Korea's position and discuss prompt solutions."

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 19th. Photo by Yonhap News

Acting President Choi made these remarks while presiding over a meeting on external economic issues at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Attendees included Yoo Sang-im, Minister of Science and ICT; Cho Tae-yeol, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ahn Deok-geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; Bang Ki-seon, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination; Sung Tae-yoon, Chief Policy Officer of the Presidential Office; Shin Won-sik, Director of the National Security Office; Park Sung-taek, First Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; and Jeong In-kyo, Director-General for Trade Negotiations.

At the meeting, Acting President Choi requested active responses regarding the U.S. Department of Energy's inclusion of Korea on the sensitive countries list. He urged, "Taking this incident as an opportunity, please strive to raise awareness and improve systems related to technology and security at public andprivate research institutions," and instructed, "please conduct more thorough information gathering, trend monitoring, and consultations with the U.S. through diplomatic channels such as the local embassy."