US designation of South Korea as a ”sensitive country” may take effect on 15th, affecting security concerns and cooperation

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has designated South Korea as a "sensitive country" and this is set to take effect today, the 15th. This could hinder science, technology and research cooperation between the US and South Korea.
On the 14th, in response to a question in the National Assembly, Kim Hong-Ki, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, said, "It may take time for the procedures within the Department of Energy to take effect.
" The DOE said in early January that it had added South Korea to the "Sensitive Countries and Other Designated Countries List (SCL)." Today, the 15th, is the effective date.
Under federal law, the Secretary of the Department of Energy requires that nationals or agents of sensitive countries complete background checks before entering laboratories related to the national security of the United States.
If the procedures are not completed, entry will not be permitted. Therefore, in the future, when Korean researchers visit U.S. research institutes, they will be required to submit the necessary documents 45 days in advance, in principle, and obtain individual approval.
Additional security procedures will also be applied when U.S. Department of Energy employees or researchers visit or have contact with South Korea. The South Korean government has warned that the enforcement of these measures could have a negative impact on science and technology cooperation between the two countries.
The US has been intensively discussing with the US to lift the tariffs before they come into effect, as it believes that the tariffs will have a significant impact on the US economy. On the 20th of last month, Ahn Deok-keun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, visited the US and met with Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy.
Although a certain degree of understanding is said to be progressing between the two countries regarding the removal of the designation, it is expected that the actual removal will take time as the US side completes the administrative procedures.
A South Korean government official said, "The two countries are continuing discussions to resolve the issue in accordance with procedures. The U.S. side has stated that it will take care to ensure that there is no negative impact on South Korea's research and development and exchange and cooperation in the field of science and technology."
It shows the place," he explained.