South Korea confirmed on Tuesday that it remains listed on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Sensitive Countries List, a designation that places Seoul alongside nations such as China, Russia and North Korea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) told reporters that it has not received any notification about its removal from the list.

A MOFA official added that the government “assumes it is now in effect” as of April 15. “During the meeting with the former U.S. Secretary of Energy on March 20, both sides agreed to cooperate in resolving the issue promptly through due process,” the ministry told Korea Pro. While director-level consultations are ongoing, “as the matter is proceeding in accordance with internal procedures on the U.S. side, it is expected to take more time,” it added.

WHY IT MATTERS

The DOE designation subjects South Korea to increased scrutiny in scientific and technological cooperation with U.S. national laboratories, particularly in energy-related fields. While the U.S. has stated that the designation will not impact ongoing or future joint research projects, it may complicate exchanges in nuclear, advanced materials and emerging technology sectors. 

The designation, which groups South Korea with states that the U.S. considers adversarial, could erode the credibility of alliance rhetoric, particularly in high-trust areas like joint research, technology sharing and advanced defense cooperation. Even if South Korea is placed in a lower-risk subcategory, the designation introduces bureaucratic friction and reputational damage that undercut its standing as a key U.S. ally.

The designation’s activation also coincides with the Trump administration’s renewed push for rapid bilateral trade deals. In this context, the Trump administration will likely use the DOE listing as a potent form of leverage to extract concessions from South Korea on energy imports, production localization, regulatory barriers and joint defense cost sharing. Acting President Han Duck-soo has already rejected retaliatory tariffs, calling them counterproductive. For Seoul, the challenge is to avoid appearing defiant or overly compliant in its negotiations with Washington.