The U.S. Department of Energy recently confirmed that it added South Korea to the lowest category of the “Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List (SCL)” in January. Designating a country on the SCL means the U.S. can impose restrictions on bilateral cooperation in science and technology. The DOE has listed 25 countries, including North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran, as sensitive countries, citing potential concerns over national security, nuclear nonproliferation, and terrorism. South Korea’s designation will go into effect on April 15. While countries critical to U.S. security, such as Israel, Taiwan, and India, are also on the list, South Korea is the only U.S. ally designated as a sensitive country.
“Currently, there are no new restrictions on bilateral science and technology cooperation with the Republic of Korea,” said the DOE, adding that many countries on the SCL are cooperating with the U.S. However, inclusion on the list means that information or technology sharing will now require a prior internal review by the DOE. The department’s 17 national laboratories oversee advanced fields such as nuclear energy and artificial intelligence. Concerns are growing that Korea’s addition to the SCL could hinder future bilateral cooperation as review procedures become more rigorous.
The Korean government was not notified of the decision in advance. During a parliamentary session on March 11, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul admitted that there had been “no prior notification regarding the designation” and that the ministry was still “assessing the situation” through unofficial channels. He also said he believed that the decision had not been finalized yet.
The foreign ministry’s failure to provide a clear explanation for Korea’s inclusion in the SCL has sparked speculation about the rationale behind the U.S. government’s decision. Some suggest the Dec. 3 martial law incident influenced the decision, while others point to growing discussions on South Korea’s nuclear self-reliance or broader U.S. efforts to restrict technology transfers, but no official explanation has been provided. Meanwhile, Korea’s ruling and opposition parties have begun blaming each other for the designation.
Even seasoned foreign policy experts have acknowledged that they were unaware of the SCL’s existence. Since multiple U.S. government agencies compile similar lists, it is essential to accurately determine the meaning and implications of this designation and then figure out why South Korea, a longstanding U.S. ally, has been added. Only after fully understanding the situation should the government assess its significance and respond appropriately.
