The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) designation of South Korea as a “sensitive country”—which includes nations in higher-risk categories like China, Russia, and North Korea—is set to take effect on April 15.
The DOE under the Biden administration added the key U.S. ally to the list in January amid political uncertainties in the East Asian country.
While the DOE offered no specific reason for South Korea’s inclusion, the move followed President Yoon’s short-lived martial law declaration in December 2024 and speculation about Seoul pursuing nuclear weapons.
Being on the list means the United States requires extra scrutiny on energy partnerships with the country over national security, nuclear proliferation, or regional instability concerns.
The DOE confirmed the designation to The Epoch Times on March 14. The department didn’t comment on the possibility of the Trump administration reversing it. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Constitutional Court nears a ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.
The designation has caused diplomatic unease in Seoul. South Korea’s foreign ministry said on March 15 that the government has taken the designation seriously and is in talks with Washington to limit its impact.
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South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul told parliament on March 11 that the list remains under review, with the DOE reassessing its stance, Yonhap News Agency reported.
That same day, South Korea’s parliament passed a bipartisan resolution reaffirming the U.S.-South Korea alliance’s importance for peace and security.
A day before, lawmakers established the South Korea-U.S. Parliamentary Alliance to bolster business and inter-parliamentary exchanges with the U.S. Congress. The organization is composed of a group of 162 members from both ruling and opposition parties.
U.S. officials have offered mixed views on the country’s political stability.
Joseph Yun, acting U.S. Ambassador to Seoul, said at the Parliamentary Alliance’s first meeting on March 10 that China is the United States’ biggest competitor. He urged South Korea to “fully align” with the United States on economic and security priorities.
During a March 4 Senate confirmation hearing, Elbridge Colby, the incoming number three defense leader, questioned the future of U.S.-Japan-South Korea cooperation.
“If we look at South Korean political dynamics over the last six to eight months, it’s not clear that that’s going to be enduring,” he said.
The designation could hinder South Korean researchers’ collaboration with U.S. institutions in nuclear energy, AI, and quantum technology, as it imposes stricter approval processes. However, the DOE spokesperson noted that no new restrictions currently apply to bilateral science and technology cooperation.
Meanwhile, the impeachment saga of the South Korean president goes on. Impeached in December 2024 after imposing martial law over what Yoon said was the opposition’s efforts to gridlock the nation’s unicameral National Assembly and controversy surrounding the nation’s National Election Commission, Yoon has pursued a pro-U.S., Japan-friendly stance while distancing South Korea from China and North Korea.
The opposition party is the majority in the Parliament and favors maintaining ties with China and North Korea. Its leaders have accused Yoon of destabilizing governance by imposing the short-lived martial law, which was quickly nullified by parliamentary votes.
Reuters contributed to this report.
