Seoul: The designation of South Korea as a sensitive country by the United States was attributed to "mishandling of sensitive information" during exchanges between science research institutions under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), according to the acting American ambassador to Seoul. The ambassador described the situation as "not a big deal."
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea was placed in the "lowest" category of the DOE's "sensitive and other designated countries list" (SCL) in early January. This decision was made during the final weeks of former U.S. President Joe Biden's administration and shortly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law in December. The designation has attracted attention in South Korea, with some speculating that it may have been influenced by recent discussions about Seoul's potential nuclear armament.
Joseph Yun, the acting U.S. ambassador to Seoul, indicated that the DOE listing was not a serious issue affecting bilateral relations. He remarked, "this whole thing got out of control" and downplayed the matter's significance.
Yun explained that the sensitive country list is specific to DOE laboratories, which host a number of Korean students, researchers, and government workers. Last year, over 2,000 individuals from South Korea visited these facilities, some of which handle sensitive material. The listing is reportedly due to "some mishandling of sensitive information" that should remain within the laboratories. However, Yun did not provide further details on the incidents.
Yun further stated that he had "never heard of" the DOE list issue before learning about it recently. He emphasized that South Korea and the U.S. have agreed to cooperate as a tier 1 country in advanced science fields, and he dismissed claims that the listing affects practical research collaboration.
South Korea's foreign ministry clarified that the country's placement on the SCL was related to security issues at DOE-affiliated research institutions, not a broad foreign policy decision. The U.S. government informed the ministry that the inclusion resulted from security regulation violations during South Korean researchers' visits to DOE laboratories or participation in joint research projects.