Michelle Steel (Korean name Park Eun-ju), the first woman of Korean descent nominated as U.S. ambassador to Korea, officially took office on the 30th. Ambassador Steel said she would focus on firmly safeguarding peace and security in the Asia-Pacific based on the ironclad South Korea-U.S. alliance. With a new U.S. ambassador to Korea beginning full-fledged diplomatic duties following the launch of the Donald Trump administration, coordination on major pending issues between the two countries is expected to speed up.
On the 30th, Ambassador Steel said in a statement released immediately after arriving through Incheon International Airport, "I look forward to working with Korea so that our (South Korea-U.S.) ironclad alliance can remain the linchpin for peace and security in the region." The remark reflects the U.S. government's plan to reaffirm the cohesion of the two countries and respond proactively to changes in the security landscape in Northeast Asia.
Ambassador Steel placed particular emphasis on implementing the agreements reached between the two leaders. Steel said, "In Gyeongju, President Trump and President Lee Jae-myung opened a new chapter in our alliance," recalling the results of the South Korea-U.S. summit held in Gyeongju in Oct. last year. She added, "We will further develop President Trump's vision for the alliance to build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future." The comment signaled a strong commitment to faithfully supporting at the working level the diplomatic direction set by the top leadership.
She also underscored the historical significance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. Ambassador Steel said, "The South Korea-U.S. alliance has become one of the strongest alliances in the world," and assessed, "Our alliance was forged in war and was strengthened by the blood of those who stood shoulder to shoulder to defend freedom." By highlighting the blood alliance that shares the historical experience of the 6/25 War, the aim was to solidify the emotional bond between the peoples of both countries.
Born in Seoul, Ambassador Steel said in fluent Korean, "I was born in Seoul, but I stand here representing the United States. Standing here again brings a flood of emotions." After finishing the statement, she also greeted in Korean, saying, "I am very grateful to stand on this land again."
At the arrivals hall that day, her husband, attorney Shawn Steel, whom she married in 1981, accompanied her, drawing attention. Attorney Steel is an influential politician who served as chair of the California Republican Party. He is regarded as a key aide who encouraged Ambassador Steel to enter politics when she was elected in 2006 as a Commissioner of the California Board of Equalization, the only elected taxes body in the United States. Afterward, Ambassador Steel secured a solid political foothold by winning consecutive races for the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2014 and for the U.S. House of Representatives from California in 2020.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Steel left the airport without a separate Q&A with reporters, saying, "I hope we can arrange another opportunity soon."