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Seoul, Washington agree to 'swiftly' resolve 'sensitive' designation

Published: 21 Mar. 2025, 13:58 Updated: 21 Mar. 2025, 16:56

SEO JI-EUN
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Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, left, poses for a photo with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright during their meeting in Washington on March 20. Ahn and Wright agreed to cooperate to "swiftly" resolve the issue of Seoul being designated a "sensitive" country by the U.S. Department of Energy, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. [MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND ENERGY]

Korea and the United States agreed to work together to "swiftly" resolve the issue of Seoul's designation as a "sensitive country" by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which is scheduled to take effect in April, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Friday.

The agreement was reached during the first meeting between Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright during Ahn's trip to Washington.

During the talks, Ahn conveyed Korea’s concerns regarding the DOE’s designation, according to the ministry’s press statement.

The DOE confirmed last week that Korea was placed in the lowest category of its “Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List” in early January.

The listing subjects all visits to DOE-related facilities and research institutions, as well as collaborative research projects, to an internal review beforehand.

While officials stressed that the designation stems from technical "security concerns" rather than diplomatic or policy-based issues, the Korean government described the issue as "serious" and launched a "pan-governmental" response to be removed from the list.

Although both countries agreed to cooperate to resolve the issue, there is growing uncertainty over whether it can be done before the designation formally takes effect on April 15.

A government official told Yonhap News Agency that it is difficult to predict exactly when the designation might be lifted, but added, “We will do our utmost to ensure that the process moves swiftly and to shorten the time required as much as possible.”

Updated, March 21: Added details about the designation, government's response.

BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]