Seoul: The foreign ministry of South Korea announced that it is in "close consultation" with the United States concerning the potential designation of South Korea as a "sensitive country" by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This follows reports indicating that the DOE is considering including South Korea on its sensitive country list.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the inclusion of South Korea on this list would mean that researchers from the country could face more rigorous scrutiny when attempting to join research facilities or projects affiliated with the DOE. This could pose challenges for South Korean researchers wishing to engage in U.S. research on advanced technologies, such as atomic energy, artificial intelligence, or quantum technology.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong stated that the sensitive country list is not yet finalized. Lee emphasized that the foreign ministry is actively consulting with relevant U.S. organizations to address the matter. Earlier this week, during a parliamentary session, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul noted that South Korea has already raised concerns about the issue with the DOE, prompting the department to reassess the situation.
Minister Cho mentioned that once the U.S. completes its internal review, it may initiate further discussions with South Korea to resolve any concerns related to the sensitive country designation.