Ambassador Michelle Steele Takes Office in Korea…Emphasizes the ROK-U.S. Alliance

Michelle Steel, the new U.S. ambassador to South Korea, arrived in Korea on the 30th and emphasized the importance of the KoreaU.S. alliance. At Incheon International Airport, Ambassador Steel said, “The KoreaU.S. alliance is one of the strongest alliances in the world,” and stated that she wants to continue cooperation with South Korea. Ambassador Steel is a Korean American born in Seoul and the second Korean American U.S. ambassador to South Korea, following former Ambassador Sung Kim from 2011 to 2014. She previously served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and with her appointment, the vacancy for the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, which had continued for more than one year and six months, was also resolved. Within and outside the government, there are expectations that she can serve as a channel of communication between South Korea and the United States, but there are also concerns that she may place greater emphasis on America First policies or a hardline stance toward China and North Korea. In particular, attention is focused on what position she will take on issues such as Coupang, U.S. investment, and countering China.