Seoul: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has placed South Korea on its "sensitive country" list as part of an effort to review technology security in response to the emergence of new science technology, according to South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul. This designation, announced during a parliamentary session by Cho, is part of South Korea's ongoing diplomatic efforts to reverse the DOE's January designation of South Korea in the "lowest" category of its "sensitive and other designated countries list."
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho stated that the DOE explained the designation was part of its process to review and strengthen technology-related security due to the changing technology landscape. South Korea was placed in the "third-grade" category, which differs from the first and second grades that focus on nonproliferation and the prevention of terrorism. This classification has raised concerns about potential impacts on Seoul's efforts to enhance cooperation with Washington in nuclear energy and other sectors.
The DOE's designation means that South Korea will face stricter scrutiny when seeking access to DOE research institutions and other facilities for technology cooperation. However, Cho noted that the DOE intended for the list to remain confidential, with limited awareness among officials involved in technology security. The foreign minister emphasized that the inclusion of South Korea on the list was not due to diplomatic policy but was related to security issues concerning research institutes under the DOE.
While the DOE has not cited any specific security violations involving South Korea, a report from the DOE Office of the Inspector General indicated that an incident occurred when a laboratory contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory was terminated after attempting to board a flight to South Korea with export-controlled information on nuclear reactor design software. Despite these concerns, the minister noted that the inclusion would not impose new restrictions on joint research projects or technology cooperation between Seoul and Washington, although South Koreans visiting DOE-related institutes will undergo prior background reviews.