US Department of Energy's 'Korea Sensitive Country' Measure Effective from the 15th

Concerns over Disruptions in South Korea-U.S. Cooperation

The effectiveness of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s measure to list South Korea as a sensitive country, announced last January, will take effect from the 15th. As a result, concerns have arisen that there may be disruptions in science and technology and research cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. for the time being.

Kim Hong-gyun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, is responding to a question from Kim Young-bae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, during the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 14th, where government-related questions on politics, diplomacy, unification, and security were conducted. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Kim Hong-gyun, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on the 14th during a parliamentary question session regarding the effective date of the U.S. sensitive country designation, "Since it follows internal procedures within the (U.S.) Department of Energy, it seems likely that it will take some physical time."

Earlier, the U.S. Department of Energy announced in early January that South Korea had been placed on the "Sensitive Countries and Other Designated Countries List" (SCL). The effectiveness of this list begins on the 15th.

According to U.S. federal law, if a citizen or agent of a country classified as sensitive attempts to access a U.S. national security research institute, prior identity verification must be completed; otherwise, access cannot be granted. Accordingly, once this measure takes effect, researchers from South Korea must submit relevant documents and obtain separate approval at least 45 days before visiting U.S. research institutes. Additional security procedures will also apply when U.S. Department of Energy staff or affiliated researchers visit or contact South Korea.

The South Korean government has focused on practical consultations aiming to lift the designation before it takes effect, anticipating disruptions in science and technology cooperation between the two countries if the measure is actually enforced. In particular, practical consultations were actively pursued when Ahn Deok-geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, visited Washington DC on the 20th of last month and met with Chris Wright, Secretary of the Department of Energy.

Although it is known that both countries have reached a consensus on lifting the designation, it is reported that more time is needed due to U.S. administrative procedures to achieve the actual removal.

A government official stated, "Both countries are continuously consulting to resolve the issue according to procedures," adding, "The U.S. side has conveyed a position that South Korea’s exchanges and cooperation in research and development or science and technology will not be negatively affected."