Seoul: New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel is set to arrive in Seoul on Thursday, marking the first appointment to this diplomatic post since President Donald Trump returned to office, according to sources. Steel will land at Incheon International Airport from Los Angeles at approximately 3:20 p.m. She was nominated by Trump in April and confirmed by the U.S. Senate last month.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ambassadorial role has remained unfilled since Philip Goldberg's departure in January of the previous year. The submission of Steel's credentials is anticipated to occur next week, as Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and the foreign ministry's chief of protocol are currently accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his South America trip, with their return scheduled for early next week. Newly appointed foreign ambassadors traditionally present their credentials to the foreign ministry's chief of protocol before commencing duties. U.S. ambassadors also typically engage in a courtesy call with the foreign minister during this occasion.
A Korean American Republican politician, Steel was born in Seoul in 1955 and emigrated to the United States in the mid-1970s. She represented California in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2020 to 2024. Steel is the second Korean American to serve as the top U.S. envoy to South Korea, following Sung Kim's 2011 to 2014 tenure.
Responding to a Yonhap News Agency inquiry in Washington last week, Steel stated that her primary focus is on strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance. Her arrival coincides with ongoing security and economic discussions between Seoul and Washington, including South Korean investment in the U.S., civilian nuclear cooperation, Seoul's nuclear-powered submarine ambitions, and efforts to modernize the longstanding alliance.
Steel's nomination faced criticism from some progressive civic groups who view her as a conservative figure. However, South Korean government officials expressed confidence in her understanding of the South Korea-U.S. alliance's significance and her commitment to cooperation with the Seoul government.
"South Korea and the U.S. have a wide range of issues to work on together amid the rapidly evolving security and economic landscape," a foreign ministry official commented. "We welcome Ambassador Steel's arrival and hope it will help advance discussions on those issues."